People With Schizophrenia Are Dying Too Early
Posted: Friday, October 20th, 2017
Image: Tyler Olson on Shutterstock
A new study published in the US has revealed that the poor life expectancy of people with schizophrenia is getting worse. Although it has been known for some time that people living with schizophrenia will die earlier that the general population this study has shown that the “longevity gap” is not getting better but is continuing to widen.
The study was carried out at the University of California, San Diego and reported on line by Medscape News in September. The report author, Dr Dilip Jeste said “People with schizophrenia mostly die from physical illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, stroke or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ……. Things that usually kill people in their 70s 80s and 90s will kill people with schizophrenia when they are still in their 40s, 50s and 60s”.
Although this study was carried out in the US it reviewed previous studies done in both the US and Western Europe and confirms what doctors in the UK have known for many years: that even allowing for the high suicide rate, people living with schizophrenia will die earlier than their counterparts in the general population.
The current guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the UK body which establishes standards of care in the UK, requires doctors to provide regular monitoring of physical health and referral to support services such as smoking cessation. However in practice provision of this monitoring has been very patchy and in areas where it has been provided take up by patients with schizophrenia has sometimes been disappointing.
Living with schizophrenia has published two information sheets on their website to help people with schizophrenia who are concerned about their physical health: Physical Health http://livingwithschizophreniauk.org/advice-sheets/physical-health-schizophrenia/ looks at some of the physical health conditions associated with schizophrenia and their likely causes and Exercise http://livingwithschizophreniauk.org/advice-sheets/exercise-schizophrenia/ looks at the problem of a sedentary lifestyle and what can be done about it.
Physical health is another example of the way in which the appallingly high death toll of this cruel condition remains one of the largely unmet public health issues of our day. It is time for doctors and politicians alike to wake up and start to take notice of this nationally significant issue.
<< Back to blogShare This
I really need information on how to deal with my loved one suffering with schizophrenia.I feel.like there is no hope.Please contact me thank you.
I wish we could help with more information for carers but I have to admit that the website is still a work in progress and we do not have as much for carers as we would like. You may find this page helpful though http://livingwithschizophreniauk.org/advice-sheets/advice-carers/. David.
Diana Garcia,
Please look for a support group in your area to help you deal with the mental illness of your loved one.
My husband and I have been attending one and found it to be such a help to hear how others are dealing with their loved ones.
There is an understanding among our group that can’t be found among other friends no matter how much they want to help.
If you can’t find one, possibly you can start one. So many caregivers are hurting but hesitate to talk about it.
i also have a similar issue my sister is suffering from schizophrenia and am losing hope.
Hi,
My son at the time of 12 th std age 20 yrs was detected with schizophrenia by a psychiatrist initially we have taken very lightly and given medic ens after completion of his btech he got the job and worked successfully from 2011 to 2014 then he got the scholarship for higher studies in usa he completed the masters. in 2016 he got the phd admission .
during the period 2005 to 2016 he was quite well and we never thought that he is suffering with this type of disease. suddenly in 2017 may he become upset . now we are not in position to understand what to do he is not willing to work only mind is diverted towards the sex he is now 30 yrs .
we are now sr citizen we feel help less and now we have kept ourself aloof from the society .
we are also not able to take him to psychologist he says he is quite well he did not want to meet the other peoples. pl advis me
Good afternoon,
Unfortunately we do not have as much material on the website for carers as we would like but I would suggest that you take a look at our page for carers at http://livingwithschizophreniauk.org/advice-sheets/advice-carers/ which may be of some help.
HI my son is schizophrenia
what can i do to help him he is only 20 years old everyone is always saying the same thing there nothing we can do unless he wants help .. he doesn’t know he needs help the law needs to change a parent should be allow to help a child with medical needs
Thank you Nydia. Unfortunateley we do not have as much information on our website for carers as we would like but we are working to improve this including trying to address this problem. Please watch this space.
My son is 20 also and recently diagnosed bipolar 2 schizoaffective disorder. Contact your crisis hotline and explain and demand a DMHP(designated mental health provider) to come do a home evaluation. I wish you luck and the help and support needed.
My mum has schizophrenia. She refuses help. Is there a herbal remedy
I am carer but can’t claim carer allowance . She does nt except except she ill
My mum has schizophrenia. She refuses help. Is there a herbal remedy
I am carer but can’t claim carer allowance . She does nt except except she ill
My son has recently died after jumping from a bridge
On to a motorway. He had suffered for over ten years with schizophrenia I don’t feel that there is enough help for people in his situation.
Very very sorry for your loss Susan. I agree there are not enough services and unfortunately there are far too many people in need. This is the same for people with physical illnesses…..however there is so much more stress it seems when it is an illness of the mind, as there is the added burden of dealing with a loved one who may be in denial. It is a time disease…they have to get insight after many months or years and then they stick to the treatment.
I wish more could be done. Pehaps more education for the new generation so they are aware and educating the educators as they are in the best position to pick up on early signs of psychosis. If 1% of the population is going to suffer from a mind illness then catch it earlier through educating people.
Again, I am sorry for your loss. Peace be with you.
It wasn’t easy but the best thing i did for my son 2 years ago, was get a mental warrant, so that he could get the medical attention he needed. I felt is life was endangered as well as others. After he was released he went through depression for about a year and we are still working with him but he learned and accepted his condition and is doing better than he ever thought.
I’ve been schizophrenic for more than 10 years. The first 7 years the doctor said I had bipolar disorder but as the time my condition went worse (too much delusion) they said Im schizophrenia.
I want to say The only one to cure this illness is Medication. You have to take the patient on the meds everyday. No single day without meds because the med reduces the symptoms and keeps the patient normal.
You can help them to take Omega 3 with meal everyday because it reduces the ability of the bad symptoms to come back.
And excersising !
My son was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2007.. it is now 2018. Here in the USA there are National Alliance on Mental Illness family support groups. Also Mental Health Association support groups. In my local area there is the South Florida Wellness Network family support group meetings. There is an international group: SARDAA.. they have a telephone conference meeting every tuesday at 7 pm eastern standard time.. look them up on the internet or call 1-800-493-2094; or 240-423-9432 or email info@sardaa.org Also there are suicide hotlines. And Sardaa has a daily telephone conference meeting for people suffering WITH schizophrenia. The Tuesday telephone conference (call in) meeting is for parents or friends of those with schizophrenia or related disorders.. there we try to find solutions or offer support or tell of new resources or treatments we hear of. I am thinking of trying very expensive residential treatment for my son… I can’t really afford more than like a month of it, but I am getting desperate and scheduled for a tour of one place.. I remember i met a lady at work who told me she and her husband had re-mortgaged their home to help their 24 yr old son get help at one of these places in Orlando, FL – it was $60,000 for a month or two she told me, but she felt it was worth it cause it got her son on the right medicine. Also, obsession or strange thoughts about sex doesn’t seem to be that unusual for young men (or women) with schizophrenia in the psychotic phase of it. I have seen that happen with my son and it’s gotten him in trouble already, which cost me a lot of money to get a lawyer for that. So this is an expensive illness.. but so is cancer, right? Only our society seems to be more accepting and sympathetic towards cancer sufferers… probably because they don’t understand how people can act so strangely… they are willing to put up with people behaving the way they could imagine themselves acting.. but they can’t imagine themselves doing or saying bizarre or socially unacceptable things/acts. It’s easier to say it’s the devil and figure there’s no human solution, write it off in their minds and move on to issues that are easier to resolve. Regarding solutions, I forgot to include Recovery International… Dr. Abraham Low created this self help method in 1935 for patients leaving mental asylums so they could have a method to help themselves and not have to rely on expensive psychiatry the rest of their lives.. it also was created to help psychoneurotics and people with panic attacks and depression. Very affordable (free) and practical. Check it out.. Good luck everyone… and I’m so so sorry to hear about the man who died after jumping from a bridge. This is why we must look out for each other and try to prevent things like this if possible…Educate yourself on the disease: Read Surviving Schizophrenia by Fuller Torey, MD or I’m Not Sick.. I Don’t Need Help by Xavier Amador…. Both of these doctors had siblings with schizophrenia. There are many biographies of people who have recovered from Schizophrenia by finding the right meds: The Day the Voices Stopped by Ken Steele, and Mind Estranged: My Journey from Schizophrenia and Homelessness to Recovery by Bethany Yieser … autobiographies… also Elyn Sacs wrote: The Circle Cannot Hold… she’s a lawyer with schizophrenia. Bill Macaphee (I think that’s correct last name)… he published the SZ magazine in Canada for a long time.. he has YouTube videos about his recovery from schziophrenia…. good luck everyone. Don’t isolate.. don’t try to do it along. Asking for help is a strength not a weakness. Keep the faith.. don’t give up.. Two steps forward, one step backwards, but we never go as far back as before Recovery International.. that’s a saying in RI we use to never give up but to setbacks at times.
on YouTube on the internet: Bill Macphee does videos of himself talking: life after mental illness… he also wrote To Cry a Dry Tear and was a speaker in Canada about his experience with schizophrenia.. he’s married with a family… he talks about how he just stayed on his parents couch for 5 years until got the right meds… Schizophrenia has negative symptoms too.. lack of motivation, and not showing emotion are two of them.. also no desire to be around other people.. these are common ones I have heard other parents mention that their adult children have.
I hate it i hate hearing voices not feeling like i used to when i never heard them i wish it all would go away
My daughter after baby her baby born , I can’t recognize her. Her personality is changed. She became Paranoya , she cut me off, very agressive, she enjoy abusing me verbally, she gets very happy to make me feel bad, lack of emotions and empathy. Long time ego she told me she has OCD intrusive thoughts, but her behaivor now looks like schizophrenia . Ofcourse she thinks nothing wrong with her.,she doesn’t want any help. She avoiding me , I can’t see grandcild . I cry every day …. She even move to another area from me , hiding….
I am suffering from schizophrenia i was diagnosed with the illness since 2010 and i am taking treatment.I am working as a call center agent in one the biggest company.I would like government to help me and get a job in Government i would like to work as an administrator.i have grade 11 Diploma in receptionist,Certificates in IT Technical support ,System support,Management and attending to customer.My performance at work is good and i can concentrate very well.So please help me .Thank you very much