Increased health risks linked to first-episode psychosis
Thursday, October 9, 2014 - 11:31
in Health & Medicine
Many patients with psychosis develop health risks associated with premature death early in the course of their mental illness. Patients with schizophrenia are already known to have higher rates of premature death than the general population. Elevated risks of heart disease and metabolic issues such as high blood sugar in people with first episode psychosis are due to an interaction of mental illness, unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and antipsychotic medications that may accelerate these risks, experts say.