Exploring the experiences of people with psychosis and type 2 diabetes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the experiences of people with psychosis and type 2 diabetes: A qualitative Study
IRAS ID
264580
Contact name
Andrew Gumley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Glasgow
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 23 days
Research summary
It has been well documented that people diagnosed with schizophrenia experience poorer health outcomes and higher mortality rates, with a reduced life span on 15-25 years compared to the general population (De Hert et al., 2011). This inequality is largely attributable to physical illness such as metabolic and cardiovascular disease, rather than factors associated directly to psychiatric illness, such as suicide (Disability Rights Commission, 2006). Co-morbidity of schizophrenia and type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been widely recognised as one of the more pressing health inequalities faced by individuals with schizophrenia. T2D affects 15-18% of the population of people with schizophrenia, 2-3 times higher than that of the general population (De Hert et al., 2009).
Despite the growing research into the complex relationship between psychosis and type 2 diabetes and interventions aimed at tackling this inequality, less in known about how people with psychosis experience life with T2D. The limited qualitative research available appears to have a focus on care staffs’ perceptions in supporting individuals to manage both long-term conditions with little research looking into the first hand accounts of people living with comorbid psychosis and type 2 diabetes.
The aim of the current study is to explore the phenomenon of living with psychosis and T2D. This is important in taking steps to reduce the striking health inequalities faced by those with serious mental illness by learning through their experience how we can better support people with psychosis and T2D to live well.REC name
West of Scotland REC 3
REC reference
20/WS/0021
Date of REC Opinion
2 Apr 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion