Physical Health Monitoring of Patients With Schizophrenia

A consensus panel's recommendations for improving the physical health monitoring of patients with schizophrenia who are treated in outpatient settings, including regular monitoring of body mass index, plasma glucose level, lipid profiles, and signs of prolactin elevation or sexual dysfunction are discussed.

Abstract

The conference participants recommended that mental health care providers perform physical health monitoring that typically occurs in primary care settings for their patients who do not receive physical health monitoring in those settings. This change in usual practice is recommended on the basis of the conference participants' belief that this additional monitoring will result in the earlier detection of common, serious risk factors that could, without detection and intervention, contribute to impaired health of patients with schizophrenia.