Abstract
Schizophrenia as a complex neuromedical disease
Author(s): Orellana Gricel*, Castillo RLIntroduction: Schizophrenia (SZ) is a severe chronic psychiatric disease that significantly affects individuals’ quality of life. The life expectancy of patients with SZ is 11 to 30 years less than that of the general population. An association between SZ and a range of comorbid chronic diseases and conditions, including cardiometabolic diseases, has been discovered, which in part explains the decrease in life expectancy and quality of life. This association has been linked to the use of antipsychotics. However, scientific evidence has also demonstrated that SZ patients are intrinsically susceptible to developing chronic diseases. Moreover, the link between cardiometabolic risk and the time course of SZ evolution has not been explored. Method: The authors reviewed 147 papers to provide an update on chronic cardiometabolic diseases and sleep, bone, kidney, and cancer alterations associated with SZ to increase awareness of the specific and multidisciplinary care that these patients require. Results: Patients with SZ have a high prevalence of risk behaviours, including tobacco use and poor diet. As a result, SZ patients have worse cardiometabolic profiles than the general population and a greater probability of developing metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. SZ has also been linked to other chronic diseases, including sleep disorders (particularly obstructive sleep apnoea), osteoporosis, chronic kidney disease, and certain types of cancer. The high prevalence of these comorbidities cannot be exclusively attributed to the use of antipsychotic medication. Researchers postulate that several inherent SZ mechanisms can also contribute to the development of chronic diseases. Conclusion: SZ is a severe disease that worsens both life expectancy and quality of life. Newly available information forces us to move toward a multidisciplinary medical approach to study and manage schizophrenic patients.