Cardiovascular health behaviours and health needs among people with psychiatric disabilities

The thesis investigated cardiovascular health behaviours among people with schizophrenia and depression. People with psychiatric disabilities reported higher levels of obesity, cigarette smoking and sedentary lifestyle compared to individuals from the general population. Major predictors were high levels of fear, psychiatric symptoms, limited knowledge, limited social support and low self-efficacy. The clinical portfolio examines four case studies of different types of medical illness in relation to attachment theory. It was concluded that attachment theory is a useful conceptual framework for informing clinical formulation and explaining the patient-clinician interaction among individuals with a chronic medical illness.