[Mortality and cause of death in schizophrenia. Review of the literature]

Abstract

Through a review of the literature, the average mortality in schizophrenia is twice higher than among the population. This over mortality is highest among the 20-40 years range of age and added risk tends to disappear after 60 years. All studies stress the unnatural causes of death, suicide or accidental deaths. However several studies found an over mortality caused by natural death. The pathologies most often involved are: infections, lung, gastrointestinal, urogenital and cardiovascular diseases. Cancer mortality in schizophrenic patients is still debated. Some studies point out a reduced mortality compared to the general population whereas other studies find similar or over mortality. Nevertheless mortality ratio is found to be near 1 in the majority of studies. So it can be admitted that schizophrenic patient do really not differ from the general population in regard to cancer mortality. Premature death is highly linked to suicide. The epidemiological indicators that enable us to estimate the importance of suicide mortality are: the rate of suicide per 105 patients per year varies between 150 and 500, the percentage of death by suicide range between 10 and 15 percent. Suicide risk factors are numerous. Some of them are accepted as valid and others are still discussed. The former are: male gender, young and medium age ten first years of the illness course, associated depressive symptoms, past history of suicide attempts, iterative relapses and post hospital discharge period. The latter are: social isolation, celibacy, unemployment, high level of instruction, delusional and hallucinatory activity and familiar rejection.