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Frankfurt am Main – Schizophrenic psychoses are among the most common mental illnesses in Germany, affecting around 800,000 people. Those affected are often stigmatized and isolated, and they also have an increased risk of poverty and mortality. Family members are almost always affected as well.

Jürgen Graf, Medical Director at the University Hospital Frankfurt, pointed this out at an online press conference on the occasion of World Schizophrenia Day on May 24.

In order to improve therapy and educational offerings, the “Frankfurt Information Platform for Schizophrenic Psychoses” (FIPPS) was launched at the University Hospital Frankfurt. The FIPPS internet platform was initiated “to break down barriers for people with mental illnesses and to promote public understanding of schizophrenic psychoses,” said Graf.

The easily accessible information on the disease and on therapy and support services could help to increase social acceptance of the disease and prevent delays in treatment. FIPPS is aimed at those affected, their relatives, those treating them and the interested public nationwide. The networking offers are aimed at the Frankfurt am Main region.

The FIPPS platform should also serve as a central contact point for all those who are confronted with the clinical picture of schizophrenia: social psychiatric services, psychiatric clinics and sponsoring associations as well as practicing psychiatrists and psychotherapists.

“By providing targeted knowledge transfer, we can reduce stigmatization, improve the psychosocial and medical care of those affected and thereby positively influence the course of the disease for those affected,” explained Robert Bittner, project leader of FIPPS and deputy director of the Clinic for Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy at the University Hospital Frankfurt.

“Schizophrenic psychoses are among the illnesses with the most serious psychosocial consequences. These include an increased risk of poverty and social isolation, stigmatization and a significantly increased risk of mortality,” Bittner continued.

According to the expert, people with schizophrenic psychoses die 12 to 15 years earlier than the general population. Mostly from cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, diabetes or cancer.

The reasons for this are manifold: due to the underlying disease, lifestyle is often unhealthy, social isolation plays a role, and visiting a doctor’s office is often a challenge for those affected.

But doctors also have prejudices against people with schizophrenia, explained Bittner: “A discrimination that is partly responsible for the poorer somatic-medical care and, accordingly, for the earlier mortality.” He appealed to his colleagues to be aware of possible prejudices and to reduce them.

In addition, according to the expert, antipsychotic medications significantly reduce overall mortality in patients with schizophrenia. “This is achieved despite the side effects of the medication and has been shown in many studies,” said Bittner.

This effect can be explained by the improved functional level of treated patients, which enables them to lead a healthier lifestyle and make better use of medical care. © PB/aerzteblatt.de