Risk of cardiovascular disease in people taking psychotropic medication: a literature review

In people with serious mental illness, mortality and morbidity are significantly increased compared to the general population. This is often as a result of physical health problems; about two-thirds of premature death in people with serious mental illness has been attributed to natural causes including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Cardiovascular disease risk in people with serious mental illness is higher than the general population, this risk is further increased in those with serious mental illness taking psychotropic medication. In this article, cardiovascular disease risk in serious mental illness, particularly the association with psychotropic interventions and monitoring required, is examined.