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Schizophrenia is a chronic, heterogeneous neuropsychiatric illness that is among the world’s top 20 causes of long term disability.

This module provides an evidence-based overview of national and international data on the prevalence and risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the contributory effects of antipsychotic drugs to cardiovascular risk, and the potential cardiotoxicity associated with clozapine treatment.

It presents local experiences with a shared model of care and discusses the potential of such models to reduce the cardiovascular risk burden in patients with schizophrenia.

This MJA narrative review shares more.

Learning Outcomes

1. Be aware that most excess mortality is due to premature cardiovascular deaths rather than suicide
2. Name traditional cardiac risk factors and selects correct treatment protocols
3. Coordinate care between tertiary providers, general practitioners and primary health care professionals, monitoring the physical health of people with psychosis or schizophrenia at least annually with treatment offered accordingly.

Details

Authors: Leonard Kritharides, Vincent Chow, Tim JR Lambert

Article Type: Narrative review