Improving the physical health assessment of people with serious mental illness

Individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) die on average 20 years younger than the general population. The aim of the review described in this article was to examine relevant literature on the physical health of those with SMI and identify examples of physical health tools that have been evaluated. Four electronic databases were searched and areas identified included side effects of psychotropic medications, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, risky sexual behaviour, poor dietary intake and physical inactivity. The authors conclude that physical care of people with SMI can work well when physical and mental health care providers work in unison to facilitate an integrated care pathway. Additional training is required for mental health nurses in physical health care.