Early intervention in psychosis: keeping the body in mind.

expectancy of people with severe mental illness is reduced by around 15-20 years: – There is a 3 times increased risk of premature death. – Around 75% of these premature deaths are caused by physical disorders. – Cardiovascular disease is the single biggest cause of premature mortality. It is more common than suicide, and potentially preventable. » Poor physical health impacts negatively on self-esteem, mental health, stigma, discrimination, and quality of life. » The early phase of psychosis is a critical period for preventing or modifying cardiometabolic risk, avoiding premature death and reducing health inequalities. – Weight gain and metabolic disturbance may occur very early in the course of psychosis, accelerating within weeks of treatment initiation. – Health risk behaviours including smoking, alcohol and drug misuse, poor nutrition and physical inactivity are common and are powerfully influenced by social determinants of health. Early Intervention in Psychosis – Keeping the Body in Mind