A Survey Study on the Status of Somatic Symptoms in Young and Middle-Aged Patients with Mental Illness during Long-Term Hospitalization

Abstract

Psychiatric disorders include severe psychiatric disorders and those in general with some psychiatric disorders having a clear etiology or in which a significant psychiatric predisposing factor is present. Whereas, psychiatric disorders precisely refer to those characterized by mild depression and mild anxiety and appear to affect a large number of people in any community. It has been reported that the disease is highly prevalent and has a huge impact on the individual, family, and community levels, resulting in a heavy burden on the healthcare system of a country. To explore the status of somatic symptoms in young and middle-aged psychiatric patients during long-term hospitalization, a total of 114 young and middle-aged psychiatric patients with prolonged hospitalization (more than 5 years) were included. Data information of the hospitalized patients was recorded, including preadmission somatic symptoms, electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram, abdominal ultrasound, and blood tests. In addition, a homemade questionnaire was administered, and general information about the patients was also collected, including gender, age, current medication use, and duration of medication use. Correlations between cardiometabolic disease, osteoporosis, and long-term oral antipsychotic medication were analyzed in these young and middle-aged patients. The prevalence of comorbid somatic symptoms was 77.2%, and concomitant disorders included mainly cardiometabolic disorders, osteoporosis, pulmonary infections, cerebrovascular disorders, digestive disorders, fractures, and skin conditions. The incidence of somatic symptoms caused by long-term use of antipsychotic drugs was about 88.6%, and the incidence of concomitant somatic symptoms was higher in young and middle-aged psychiatric patients who were hospitalized for a long time. The current study observed a high prevalence of somatic symptoms in young and middle-aged patients with long-term inpatient psychiatric illness. Endocrine and metabolic disorders, particularly dyslipidemia, may trigger a range of deleterious effects. In addition to this, there is a high incidence of osteoporosis. Special attention should be paid to the side effects of antipsychotic drugs, and appropriate measures are needed to make early diagnosis and provide early treatment to reduce the occurrence of cardiometabolic diseases and osteoporosis.