According to a paper released, some mental health problems, such as depression and schizophrenia, can increase mortality and the risk of heart disease by about 100%. The study provides an overview of the differences in cardiovascular health between individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. The journal The Lancet Regional Health-Europe published it. Emory University researchers found that schizophrenia increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by over 100%.
The next most common conditions were major depression (72%), PTSD (57%), bipolar illness (61%), panic disorder (50%), and phobic anxiety (70%). Additionally, the study demonstrated that these disorders are linked to a worse prognosis, an increased chance of readmission, and a higher death rate from pre-existing heart conditions. For instance, the mortality rate for people with pre-existing CVD is more than doubled when they suffer from serious depression. The paper also emphasized a reciprocal interaction.
Viola Vaccarino, a professor at Emory University, discovered that more than 40% of those with cardiovascular disease also suffer from a mental illness. Disparities in CVD are mostly caused by social determinants of health, including obstacles to accessibility and cost for people with mental health issues. It is advised that specialists, social workers, and nursing staff provide interdisciplinary care that addresses behavioral, mental, and cardiovascular health in order to alleviate these discrepancies.
