Dyslipidemia and Mental Illness

Almost most mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression are associated with undue medical morbidity and mortality. It represents a major health problem, with 20 to 30 years shorter lifetime mortality are primarily due to premature cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, stroke...). The cardiovascular events are strongly linked to non modifiable risk factors such as age, gender, personal and/or family history, but also to crucial modifiable risk factors, such as overweight and obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes, hypertension and smoking. Although these classical risk factors exist in the general population epidemiological studies suggest that patients with severe mental illness have an increased prevalence of these risk factors. Another point is the causes of increased metabolic and cardiovascular risk in this population are related to poverty, poor diet, sedentary and compared to the general population. The increased morbidity and mortality limited behaviour access to medical care, but also to the use of psychotropic medication. Over recent years it has become apparent that antipsychotic drugs can have a negative impact on some of the modifiable risk factors.