Researchers and clinicians continue to document comorbidity and medical treatment issues for individuals with mental illness. In 2004, researchers found that outpatient clients with serious mental illness were more likely to have comorbid medical conditions than the general population and have an increased risk for medical conditions, especially diabetes, lung disease, and liver conditions (7). Researchers from Australia found that physical comorbidity in people with schizophrenia accounts for 60% of premature deaths not related to suicide in this population (6). The prevalence of chronic bronchitis and emphysema was significantly higher among Maryland adult outpatients with serious mental illness than national comparison subjects (24). In addition, it was also found that the prevalence of cardiovascular disease was higher among the Maryland adults with serious mental illness who had major depressive episodes, minor depression, and moderate mental health. Other researchers found that after a confirmed myocardial infarction, Medicare clients "with comorbid mental disorders were substantially less likely to undergo coronary revascularization procedures then those without mental disorders" (25). In western Australia, psychiatric clients were found to have a higher fatality rate from
