Physical health monitoring in schizophrenia: the use of an invitational letter in a primary care setting

Schizophrenia is associated with an increased risk of numerous physical illnesses. This study aimed to establish whether a single invitation letter was an effective tool in increasing the level of physical health monitoring in those with schizophrenia within a primary care setting. The case notes of patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were reviewed before and two months after patients were sent an invitational letter. The baseline level of physical health monitoring in patients with schizophrenia was poor across all measures used. Only 20% of patients responded to the invitation letter used. Those who did respond tended to be those with higher baseline levels of physical health monitoring. There was a marked increase in the level of physical health monitoring in those who did respond but the small number of respondents limited the overall impact and effectiveness of this intervention. A single invitational letter was a simple and practical method of trying to increase the level of physical health monitoring, but response rates seen were less than those seen previously in those without mental illness. Taken together with prior research these results suggest that more intensive or opportunistic recruitment for health checks may be needed in those with mental illness