Screening for cardiovascular risk factors in adults with serious mental illness: a review of the evidence.

BACKGROUND: Adults with serious mental illness have a mortality rate two to three times higher than the overall US population, much of which is due to somatic conditions, especially cardiovascular disease. Given the disproportionately high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the population with SMI, screening for these conditions is an important first step for timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment. This comprehensive literature review summarizes screening rates for cardiovascular risk factors in the population with serious mental illness. METHODS: Relevant articles published between 2000 and 2013 were identified using the EMBASE, PsychInfo, PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science databases. We reviewed 10 studies measuring screening rates for obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension in the population with serious mental illness. Two reviewers independently extracted information on screening rates, study population, and study setting. RESULTS: Rates of screening varied considerably by time period, study population, and data source for all medical conditions. For example, rates of lipid testing for antipsychotic users ranged from 6% to 85%. For some conditions, rates of screening were consistently high. For example, screening rates for hypertension ranged from 79% - 88%. CONCLUSIONS: There is considerable variation in screening of cardiovascular risk factors in the population with serious mental illness, with significant need for improvement in some study populations and settings. Implementation of standard screening protocols triggered by diagnosis of serious mental illness or antipsychotic use may be promising avenues for ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors in this population.

Long-Term Follow-Up of a Randomized Trial of Supported Employment for SSDI Beneficiaries With Mental Illness.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, the authors assessed the long-term impact of the Mental Health Treatment Study (MHTS), a randomized controlled trial testing the effects of providing 2 years of employment services based on the evidence-based individualized placement and support model to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients with serious mental illness. Treatment recipients also received systematic medication management, supplemental health care supports, and short-term relief from medical continuing disability review by the Social Security Administration (SSA). METHODS: MHTS site data for 2,160 participants were linked to SSA administrative data from 2011 to 2015, 1 to 5 years after the original study concluded. Univariate and multivariate models were used to assess the MHTS effects on employment, earnings, and disability benefit suspension-termination up to 7 years after services ended. RESULTS: The analyses showed that the treatment group was more likely than the control group to work, and average earnings among the treatment group increased more over time than earnings among the control group. Disability benefit suspension/termination did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Providing the demonstration's package of services and support to SSDI beneficiaries with psychiatric disabilities for up to 2 years may have a long-term impact on employment and earnings. Under the SSDI program as currently structured, however, even after receiving 2 years of evidence-based supported employment and high-quality mental health services, SSDI beneficiaries with psychiatric conditions are unlikely to achieve economic independence within 5 years.