People who are ill and have psychiatric disorders are not treated as effectively by doctors compared to those who have no mental health problems, according to new analysis.
They looked at screening for cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, HIV and cervical and breast cancer and treatment for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, HIV and cancer care. They found that of the 14 studies, which looked at health screening, 12 suggested inferior quality of care. Of the 23 studies comparing care for patients with and without mental illness, 14 suggested poor quality of care when it came to recommending drug treatment, diagnostic and investigative procedures and surgical interventions.
Dr Mitchell commented: “Doctors don’t like dealing with patients with psychiatric problems. They view them as different and they spend less time with them. They don’t offer the patient the same intensity of investigation as the nonmentally- ill patient. It’s prejudicial treatment.”
