The Physical Benefits of Preventative Behavioral Health Treatment

When people think of behavioral health prevention and early treatment they inherently think of the standard benefits associated.  These benefits at first glance include improved patient outcomes for mental illness, a higher quality of life, increased productivity, and a decrease in societal costs.  Recently however, studies have indicated that the beneficial impacts of early and effective behavioral health treatment and prevention are more pervasive and far reaching than previously known. These effects can have a dramatic impact not only on a patient’s mental health, but equivalently can beneficially impact physical health.

There is an inextricable link between physical health and mental health.  Those suffering from physical illness are more likely to present psychiatric symptoms and those suffering from mental illness are at a greater risk for general health problems.  “standardized mortality ratios for deaths from natural causes showed an increased risk of death in patients with a wide range of psychiatric conditions, including substance abuse, schizophrenia, mental retardation, bipolar affective disorder, and depression.”1  We can see this evidenced more clearly by looking at some well known correlations. Those suffering from depression are far more likely to suffer from medical illnesses including cancer, stroke, diabetes, and heart disease than are members of the general population.  Those diagnosed with schizophrenia are at increased risk for circulatory disease, infection, and endocrine disorders.2  Those suffering from bipolar disorder have a 35% higher mortality rate from natural causes than those of the same age and gender in the general population.3  Specific links have been cited between bipolar disorder and heart disease, respiratory disease, stroke, and diabetes.4  Those suffering from prolonged alcohol or substance abuse are more likely to suffer from expensive long term illness including cirrhosis, cardiomyopathy, or chronic hepatic encephalopathy.5  However even those who have not had a prolonged problem are likely to experience more frequent less severe medical problems.  A federal study in 2004 found that one out of every 14 hospital stays was related to a substance disorder.6  Another study showed that “the medical healthcare costs of untreated persons who suffer from alcoholism and drug addiction are 100% higher than those who receive treatment.”7

New understandings in the association between physical and mental health can lead to not only better preventative healthcare measures, but also in many instances financial off-set savings.  By taking a proactive approach to behavioral health and aggressively pursuing relationships between behavioral health professionals and primary care providers we can change the negative trend in outcomes for these patient populations.  Consider that “untreated behavioral disorders result in significant amounts of symptomatic treatment by PCP’s 8 and that “only 10% of those suffering from such disorders receive treatment from behavioral specialists” despite that fact that “when patients needing treatment get help from specialists, treatment effectiveness is greatly improved.”9  By specifically addressing the problems of early detection and prevention in treatable mental disorders we can significantly lower the patient population risk for some of the associated physical disorders. 

Part one of a multipart series on the link between physical and behavioral health

1. Osborn, D.P. (2001).  The poor physical health of people with mental illness. EWJM, 175;329-332.

2. National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems. (2008). Behavioral health is an integral Part of Overall Health. NAPHS.

3. Science Daily. (2009, Feb. 4). Bipolar disorder Linked to Risk of Early Death From Natural Causes. Science Daily.

4. Science Daily. 2007. Depression and Cardiovascular Disease. Science Daily.

5. Open society Institute. (2009). Unforeseen Benefits: Addiction Treatment Reduces Health Care Costs

6. APA Online. (1993). Mental Health Benefit is Cost Effective

7. Open Society Institute. (2009), Unforeseen Benefits: Addiction Treatment Reduces Health Care Costs

8. Science Daily. (2007). Depression and Cardiovascular Disease. Science Daily

9. Rosenberg, L. (2009, Aug. 13). Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Illness-The Time is Right

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