Short summary

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the second leading cause of death in Denmark. Since 1995, deaths due to cardiovascular disease have been halved, which is one of the reasons for the increased life expectancy in the general population. In contrast, patients with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and patients with alcohol dependence, lose 13 to 30 years of life expectancy and the leading cause is insufficient detection, diagnosing and treatment of CVD.

The aim is to develop interventions aimed at improving somatic care for patients suffering from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and patients with alcohol dependence, with special focus on preventing cardiovascular disease.

Rationale

Today, people with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder as well as people with alcohol use disorder are living 13 to 30 years shorter than the general population.

One of the main causes of the increased mortality is cardiovascular disease. Previous interventions to reduce mortality in the mentioned high-risk groups have mainly focused on lifestyle changes, but the effects have been modest. At the same time, other studies have shown that there is inadequate screening for risk factors among the mentioned patient groups, and even when the risk factors are identified, inadequate treatment is often initiated.

To date, no interventions have been developed and tested that can reduce the incidence and thus mortality of the mentioned high-risk groups. One of the reasons for the disappointing results may be the lack of involvement of patients and relatives in the selection and organization of interventions. One way to solve this would be to involve patients in the research, where they can contribute their own experiences and life circumstances in the encounter with the healthcare system. It is assumed that this user involvement can generate new focus areas compared to previous research in the field.

Projects will use a user-involving method (participatory design) where representatives from the mentioned high-risk groups are involved in the creative process.

Description of the cohort

10 users from the local psychiatry and 10 users from the Alcohol Treatment Facility will be invited to participate in the project. User selection will assume, that the users will supply a general user perspective for the risk groups. The selection will be according to the following criteria:

The selection at the local psychiatry (User group 1): 1) ICD 10 diagnoses F20 and F31, 2)) at least one unhealthy lifestyle factor, 3) has been examined for CVD, 4) duration of the psychiatric disease, 5) over 18 years of age, 6) Danish speaking.

The selection at the Alcohol Treatment Facility (User group 2): ICD 10 diagnose F10.2, 2) at least one unhealthy lifestyle factor, 3) has been examined for CVD, 4 duration of the alcohol abuse, 5) over 18 years of age, 6 Danish speaking

Collaborating researchers and departments

Psychiatry Department, Odense

Alcohol Treatment Center, Odense