Psychosis metabolic risk calculator (PsyMetRiC) in early psychosis: External validation study in Finland.

Introduction: Accurate detection of cardiometabolic risk in early psychosis is crucial to reducing somatic morbidity and mortality in people with psychotic disorders. We conducted an external validation of the psychosis metabolic risk calculator (PsyMetRiC), a cardiometabolic risk prediction tool developed in the UK and tailored for young people with psychosis. We compared the predictive accuracy and clinical usefulness of PsyMetRiC and a general population-based risk prediction tool for type 2 diabetes, the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC).

Physical health examination in outpatients with schizophrenia: the cost effectiveness of laboratory screening tests.

Background: Guidelines on laboratory screening in schizophrenia recommend annual monitoring of fasting lipids and glucose. The utility and the cost effectiveness of more extensive laboratory screening have not been studied.

Methods: The Living Conditions and the Physical Health of Outpatients with Schizophrenia Study provided a comprehensive health examination, including a laboratory test panel for 275 participants.

Multiple physical healthcare needs among outpatients with schizophrenia: findings from a health examination study.

Background: Despite the abundant literature on physical comorbidity, the full range of the concurrent somatic healthcare needs among individuals with schizophrenia has rarely been studied.

Aims: This observational study aimed to assess the distressing somatic symptoms and needs for physical health interventions in outpatients with schizophrenia, and factors predicting those needs.

Methods: A structured, comprehensive health examination was carried out, including a visit to a nurse and a general practitioner on 275 outpatients with schizophrenia.

Dyspepsia and constipation in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Constipation and dyspepsia are disturbing gastrointestinal symptoms that are often ignored in research on physical comorbidities of schizophrenia. The aim was to assess dyspepsia and constipation in a sample of outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum psychoses. A general practitioner performed a thorough physical health check for 275 outpatients and diagnosed constipation and dyspepsia.

Diabetes and Schizophrenia.

People with schizophrenia have 2- to 5-fold higher risk of type 2 diabetes than the general population. The traditional risk factors for type 2 diabetes, especially obesity, poor diet, and sedentary lifestyle, are common in people with schizophrenia already early in the course of illness. People with schizophrenia also often have low socioeconomic status and income, which affects their possibilities to make healthy lifestyle choices.

Clozapine use and sedentary lifestyle as determinants of metabolic syndrome in outpatients with schizophrenia.

Background: Schizophrenia patients are in danger of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its outcomes type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Antipsychotic treatment and adverse lifestyle increase the burden of metabolic problems in schizophrenia, but little is known about the role of patients' current psychiatric problems and living arrangements in MetS.

Aims: This study aims to evaluate correlations between MetS, severity of psychiatric symptoms, living arrangements, health behaviour and antipsychotic medication in outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Cerumen impaction in patients with schizophrenia.

Cerumen impaction may cause hearing loss and pain. We investigated the prevalence of cerumen impaction in a population of outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum psychoses and studied factors contributing to it. As a part of our study--"The Living Conditions and Physical Health of Outpatients with Schizophrenia"--we performed a thorough medical examination including otoscopy of the ear canal for patients treated in the community mental health center of one Finnish municipality.