Key strategies include routine physical health screening, prevention and ongoing monitoring of physical disorders, addressing lifestyle risk factors and substance use, and ensuring early identification and treatment of physical comorbidities. It is also essential to balance treatment benefits and risks by selecting effective and metabolically safer treatments for mental disorders, avoiding unnecessary discontinuation, and engaging patients in shared decision-making. Integrated and collaborative care models, such as liaison psychiatry and close coordination with primary care and specialist services, support comprehensive and coordinated management. Collectively, these actions should aim to improve quality of life, functioning, and long-term health outcomes, adding life to years, not only years to life.
Related content
Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder that has a profound effect on the individuals affected, their caregivers, and society.
Schizophrenia is associated with interacting genetic, environmental, and neurobiological factors that affect brain development, neurotransmission, immune function, and neural circuits.