Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) Detection and Management of Metabolic Syndrome in Patients With Mental Illness

It is well recognized that patients on antipsychotic agents with mental illness continue to
be affected by a severe health disparity due to lack of adequate metabolic monitoring.1-7 A
major healthcare concern is the life-expectancy decrease of ~25 years for patients with
illnesses such as schizophrenia as compared with the general population. Equally concerning
is that patients with severe persistent mental illness (SPMI) continue to have inadequate
integration of care between psychiatry and medicine. Because of the difficulty getting
patients to primary care or hospital based laboratories, the use of capillary blood,
point-of-care tests (POCT) to monitor glucose and lipids in addition to vital signs and other
anthropometric measurements in community mental health centers might prove beneficial. It is
highly likely that this advanced level of screening in the mental health setting may lead to
identifying new metabolic abnormalities or improved treatment with careful monitoring of
previously diagnosed metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and/or hypertension in antipsychotic
treated patients. It is hypothesized that if metabolic abnormalities are identified; then
providing pharmacist CMM consultative services would reduce medication related problems by
improving medication adherence, coordination of care between psychiatry and primary care, and
outcomes in metabolic indices.

Inclusion Criteria:

- English speaking

- Age 18-64

- Competent to understand and make medical choices independently

Exclusion Criteria:

- Currently or previously seen by a CMM pharmacist