Multimorbidity in primary care mental health

Multimorbidity is defined as patient complexity resulting from interactions in the presentation, course, treatment and outcomes associated with multiple biological and mental health problems, including substance misuse and social problems. Management of multiple chronic health conditions is an increasingly common challenge. Due to longer life expectancy and demographic change, the number of people with two or more chronic illnesses has increased and is expected to increase further in the future; multimorbidity is becoming a rule, rather than an exception. Increases in multimorbidity have significant consequences for primary care and secondary care, in relation to both consultation rates and expenditure. Multimorbidity is associated with increases in the costs of care, hospitalizations and adverse events. Multimorbidity poses a threat to quality of life, which decreases with increasing severity of physical and psychiatric diagnoses. Multimorbidity commonly includes a range of mental health problems, such as anxiety and depressive symptoms.