KARACHI, Sept 24: Chronic illnesses, like cancer, diabetes, heart disease and HIV/AIDS, often lead to serious psychological disorders, particularly depression. Likewise, people suffering from persistent mental disorders are frequently affected by serious physical problems.

This has been borne out in a number of scientific studies. The studies have shown that physical, emotional, social, spiritual and intellectual health are all inter-linked. That is, each has a major impact on the other.

Dr Steven Hyman, a former director of the National Institute for Mental Health, United States, stressed at a symposium that depression was a disease which profoundly affected physical being, including the structure of the brain. Thus, the same chemistry that affected the brain also affected major physical illnesses, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

An Australian study indicated that individuals with schizophrenia were 2.9 times more likely to die of natural causes, especially cardiovascular disease, than those in the general population. Also, the detection of physical illness in people living with schizophrenia was very poor.

Dr James Gordon of the Georgetown University School of Medicine showed that people who were beset with poverty, job dissatisfaction, prejudice, cultural dislocation, long-term loneliness or the sudden loss of a loved one were far more vulnerable to illness and death than those who were fulfilled in their social world.

Prof S. Haroon Ahmed of the Pakistan Association of Mental Health told a group of journalists on Friday afternoon that recognizing the importance of the works cited above, the World Federation for Mental Health had designated the following as its theme for the World Mental Health Day: "The relationship between physical and mental health - co-occurring disorders".

At a press briefing, Prof Ahmed said his association would not only observe the mental health day, but a whole week, from Oct 2 to 10, would be earmarked for activities and events highlighting the relationship between mental health and physical wellbeing.

He was of the opinion that in Pakistan mental health was not accorded as much importance as it should be. "Mental disorders are low-priority but high-prevalence conditions," he said.

"Stigma is attached to mental ailments and people shy away from seeking treatment for these conditions." He said many general practitioners prescribed anti-depressants to people suffering from physical disorders without any formal training in psychiatry.

Prof Ahmed was of the view that psychiatry should be taught in medical schools as a separate subject. "Like paediatrics, which until a few years ago did not have a separate examination, it was treated only as one of many topics in a subject."

The times had changed, he said, and as a consequence children hardly took part in sports and extra-curricular activities at their schools and colleges. "There was a time when healthy competitions took place in educational institutions. "Now, sadly, nothing of this sort happens there. The children now spend too much time in front of television which shows too much violence. At night they spend a lot of time in front of the computer."

Responding to a question, Prof Ahmed said the people suffering from terminable diseases should not be kept in the dark about their condition. "It is common in our families to hide the truth from the people who suffer from cancers, etc.

"This is wrong. The patient should be told about their disease and should be allowed to prepare for death. The only question is how and when." Dr Uzma Ambreen, Dr S. Ali Wasif and Dr Mohammad Suleman were also present at the briefing.