General Practice and Primary Care - Research Publications

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End date: 2019 × Author: Davidson, Sandra × Author: Judd, Fiona ×

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    The general health status of people with mental illness
    Davidson, S ; Judd, F ; Jolley, D ; Hocking, B ; Thompson, S (SAGE Publications, 2000-05-03)
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    Risk factors for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C among the chronic mentally ill
    Davidson, S ; Judd, F ; Jolley, D ; Hocking, B ; Thompson, S ; Hyland, B (BLACKWELL SCIENCE ASIA, 2001-04)
    OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to document the prevalence of risk factors for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C among people with chronic mental illness treated in a community setting. METHOD: 234 patients attending four community mental health clinics in the North-western Health Care Network in Melbourne, Australia, completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire which covered demographics, risk behaviour and psychiatric diagnosis. RESULTS: The sample was 58% male, and 79% of the sample had a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia. Forty-three per cent of mentally ill men and 51% of mentally ill women in the survey had been sexually active in the 12 months preceding the survey. One-fifth of mentally ill men and 57% of mentally ill women who had sex with casual partners never used condoms. People with mental illness were eight times more likely than the general population to have ever injected illicit drugs and the mentally ill had a lifetime prevalence of sharing needles of 7.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of risk behaviours among the study group indicate that people with chronic mental illness should be regarded as a high-risk group for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. It is essential that adequate resources and strategies are targeted to the mentally ill as they are for other high-risk groups.
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    Cardiovascular risk factors for people with mental illness
    Davidson, S ; Judd, F ; Jolley, D ; Hocking, B ; Thompson, S ; Hyland, B (SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD, 2001-04)
    OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to document the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease among people with chronic mental illness. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey was conducted of 234 outpatients attending a community mental health clinic in the North-western Health Care Network in Melbourne, Australia. Prevalence of smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, hypertension, salt intake, exercise and history of hypercholesterolemia was assessed. RESULTS: Compared with a community sample, the mentally ill had a higher prevalence of smoking, overweight and obesity, lack of moderate exercise, harmful levels of alcohol consumption and salt intake. No differences were found on hypertension. Men, but not women, with mental illness were less likely to undertake cholesterol screening. CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatric outpatients have a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors which may account for the higher rate of cardiovascular mortality among the mentally ill. Further research is needed to trial and evaluate interventions to effectively modify risk factors in this vulnerable population.
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    Case managers' attitudes to the physical health of their patients
    Hyland, B ; Judd, F ; Davidson, S ; Jolley, D ; Hocking, B (BLACKWELL PUBLISHING ASIA, 2003-12)
    OBJECTIVE: To examine the attitudes and practices of case managers working in Area Mental Health Services (AMHS) towards the physical health of people with chronic mental illness. METHOD: Case managers at four AMHS in Melbourne participated in focus groups and completed a survey questionnaire. RESULTS: Case managers generally believed that mental illness, psychotropic medication and lifestyle factors contributed to the poor physical health status of their patients. Although many case managers attempted interventions aimed at improving physical health, there was inconsistency regarding the areas targeted. Preventive health measures were often neglected. Overall, there was a sense of pessimism around whether improved physical health was possible for people with chronic mental illness. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of coordination among health professionals and the health system may contribute to the poor general health of people with mental illness. Patients often have difficulty accessing general practitioners and the culture within the AMHS can exclude considerations of physical health. Case management should include aspects addressing the physical health issues of AMHS clients.