title: Somatic Comorbidity in Schizophrenia: Some Possible Biological Mechanisms Across the Life Span.
abstract: Schizophrenia is associated with decreased life expectancy (15-25 y) compared to the general population, with comorbid somatic diseases and in particular cardiovascular diseases being a major cause. Life style and medication probably account for much of the increased mortality risk due to somatic diseases in schizophrenia, but the evidence implicating biological pathways potentially affecting both body and brain is increasing. This includes overlapping genes between schizophrenia and somatic diseases, prenatal risk factors such as hypoxia and infections, and increased cardiovascular disease risk in drug-naïve patients at illness onset. Although environmental bias increases throughout the disease course, there are also some studies on chronic schizophrenia and postmortem brain samples that warrant further attention. In the following, we will attempt to move beyond environmental impact and explore some of the shared pathophysiological mechanisms potentially underlying both schizophrenia and somatic diseases.
authors.affiliation: NORMENT K.G. Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT and K.G. Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; ingrid.dieset@medisin.uio.no.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dieset
authors.affiliation: NORMENT K.G. Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT and K.G. Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ole A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Andreassen
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychiatry, Ostfold Hospital Trust, Fredrikstad, Norway.
authors.forename: Unn K
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Haukvik
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics
keywords: cardio vascular; mortality schizophrenia; schizophrenia; somatic comorbidity