Improvement of the physical health of people with mental illness

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Although excess rates of medical comorbidities in people with mental disorders have been known for years, concrete steps undertaken to fight this unsatisfactory situation have not been undertaken yet. Therefore, in this issue of Current Opinion in Psychiatry, recent findings in five major areas are summarized. RECENT FINDINGS: All major psychiatric disorders seem to be affected with physical comorbidities, but the issue has attracted attention only recently. SUMMARY: Reasons for the excess rates of physical comorbidities in mental illnesses are diverse. They are in part inherent in psychiatric disorders, are related to the problems of the health system and have to do with stigma and the insufficient training of psychiatrists.