Disparity found in physical care of schizophrenia patients

This is a very important study. We, as a field, are looking at how we can think more collaboratively with other disciplines so that we do a better job integrating the overall care of people with psychiatric conditions. That’s an important trend in psychiatry and medicine in general. You have to treat the whole person, and look at the whole person.

Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein

That’s going to make a big difference over time in the care of people with psychiatric conditions. On average, people with severe psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia end up dying at a significantly earlier age than other people due to medical problems. It’s very important that we make sure that people who have schizophrenia, for example, or any other psychiatric condition receive the best possible medical care along with their psychiatric treatment.

We use the word stigma. I think that really is an understatement. I think it’s prejudice. In our society, fortunately, we don’t allow prejudice any more based on a variety of factors, but we still, to whatever degree, tolerate prejudice when it comes to people with psychiatric conditions. That’s something that we really need to change.

Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein is president and chief executive officer of the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation in Great Neck, N.Y. He reported having no financial disclosures.