The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has updated its Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including with new information specifically addressed to individuals in the European Economic Area. As described in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, this website utilizes cookies, including for the purpose of offering an optimal online experience and services tailored to your preferences.

Please read the entire Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. By closing this message, browsing this website, continuing the navigation, or otherwise continuing to use the APA's websites, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the utilization of cookies.

×
ArticleNo Access

Previously Unrecognized Physical illnesses in Psychiatric Patients

Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1176/ps.42.2.182

Studies of the prevalence of previously unrecognized physical illness among psychiatric patients have paid little attention to the treatment implications of such illness. The authors describe a study in California in which 78 inpatients received an augmented evaluation one to two weeks after their admission evaluation. The retest evaluation detected previously unrecognized physical conditions that were judged to be causal among patients and physical conditions that were judged to exacerbate the psychiatric condition among 56 patients. The authors discuss the treatment implications of the most common type of conditions detected, neurological and nutritional. They also delineate the barriers to recognizing and then treating previously unrecognized physical illnesses.

Access content

To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.