Health behavior in psychiatric in-patients compared with a German general population sample

Objectives: To compare the health relevant behavior of psychiatric patients and the general population. Method: Health behavior of 363 psychiatric in-patients with ICD-10 diagnoses of schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, major depressive disorders and neurotic, and somatoform disorders was compared with health behavior of a representative sample of 7200 persons from German general population. Results: Increased prevalence rates for smoking and illicit drug use were found for all diagnostic groups. Risk alcohol consumption was increased in patients with schizophrenia and depression. Smokers with schizophrenia had an excess cigarette consumption compared with general population. The number of unhealthy food habits was increased in all diagnostic groups, and the body mass index was found to be increased for patients with schizophrenia. Patients with depression were more physically active than general population. Conclusion: Poor health behavior is widespread in patients with all major psychiatric diagnoses. Interventions to reduce risk behavior and strengthen health preventive lifestyles are necessary.