title: Physical health concerns of the patient, the family and the carer.
abstract: Physical health monitoring is crucial in the light of current knowledge about the risks associated with schizophrenia and its treatment. Cooperation between psychiatrists, patients and informal carers can significantly enhance patient wellbeing in this regard. Moreover, an advocacy approach elevates patients from being passive recipients of care to active participants in an integrated system that has outcome benefits for all stakeholders. Considerable progress is being made in this regard, although there is still a long way to go to maximise the benefits of carer involvement in the global management of schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: European Federation of Associations of Families of People with Mental Illness, Leuven, Belgium. janet.mccrae3@virgin.net
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCrae
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003255:Consumer Organizations; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011287:Prejudice; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents