Food and nutrition insecurity among individuals with schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders

Food insecurity is a prominent, modifiable driver of poor diet quality and medical comorbidities like overweight/obesity, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. High rates of these conditions among individuals with psychotic disorders are due to complex factors, including poor access to healthy food. Those with psychotic disorders and other forms of serious mental illnesses have a very high prevalence of food insecurity (i.e., being without reliable access to enough food) and nutrition insecurity (i.e., poor access to nutritious food in particular). Access to healthy food and diet quality are not equally distributed; some groups face much greater disadvantages than others. Individuals with psychotic disorders should be screened for food and nutrition insecurity, evaluated further in the context of a positive screening, and referred to local resources where food-related needs can be addressed.