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Predictors of death from natural causes in schizophrenia: 10-year follow-up of a community cohort

Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology volume 47, pages 843–847 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

People with schizophrenia have increased natural mortality. There is much speculation but little evidence about the reasons behind this. This paper describes a study designed to measure the impact of pre-selected clinical, demographic and lifestyle variables on the natural mortality of a cohort with schizophrenia.

Methods

Ten-year Cox proportional hazards regression analysis of a community cohort of 95 people with schizophrenia.

Results

Death from natural causes was significantly associated with psychosis (HR 2.62, 95% CI 1.13–6.07), age (HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.02–1.13) and cigarette smoking (HR 2.53, 95% CI 1.01–6.34) at outset. There was a trend to association with low dietary unsaturated fat (P = 0.06).

Conclusions

Active psychosis appears to predict natural mortality in people with schizophrenia. Mental health services should prioritise the effective treatment of psychosis. Further research is needed to clarify other risk factors and evaluate health promotion interventions.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Hampshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Cannon House, 6 Cannon Street, Shirley, Southampton, SO15 5PQ, UK

    Steve Brown

  2. School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

    Clemence Mitchell

Authors
  1. Steve Brown
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  2. Clemence Mitchell
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Steve Brown.

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Brown, S., Mitchell, C. Predictors of death from natural causes in schizophrenia: 10-year follow-up of a community cohort. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 47, 843–847 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-011-0392-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-011-0392-6

Keywords

  • Schizophrenia
  • Psychosis
  • Mortality
  • Physical health
  • Lifestyle