Need for integrated health services for people with schizophrenia and cardiometabolic risk: A case study

This study aimed to obtain an overview of the need for integrated health services for people with schizophrenia and cardiometabolic risk. The case patient is a 36-year-old man with continuous paranoid schizophrenia since the age of 16 and morbid obesity. He took risperidone irregularly, with increased appetite and uncontrollable weight gain as side effects of treatment. His elderly parents were his primary caregivers. The patient has been bedridden for the past 2 years and totally dependent on others for self-care. The community health center learned of his situation 6 months ago, and since then doctors have monitored his condition regularly through home visits. While hospitalized, the patient received interdisciplinary collaboration services to manage his psychiatric disorders and cardiometabolic risk. At discharge, a meeting was held between the healthcare team and family, and open communication and coordination with the healthcare providers at the Community Health Center was provided. The complex medical problems for people with schizophrenia and cardiometabolic risk require an integrated health service. Various regulations and policies, financing, health services, human resources, partnerships, and infrastructures can be utilized to develop such an integrated service; however, further studies are still required to assess the feasibility of such service.