The mortality risk of psychiatric emergency patients: A follow-up study

Abstract

The mortality risk of 1433 psychiatric emergency patients was investigated (mean follow-up, 7 years and 5 months) by using life-table methods, standard mortality ratios (SMR) and control groups. Males were shown in general to have twice the risk of females in our group. The summarized SMR was 2.9 for males and 2.2 for females when compared with the general population. When overall odds ratios (OR) were used, the risks were even higher when comparing different gender age groups and length of follow-up. Younger males especially had a high mortality risk. Excess mortality was mainly due to unnatural deaths (suicides, accidents) among the young and middle-aged, but natural deaths were also significantly increased, mainly because of excess deaths among the elderly. Parasuicidal behaviour was shown to be a risk factor for future suicides, and age gender differences were found. Young parasuicidal males had significantly higher risks than young parasuicidal females. Females with affective disorder and males with alcoholism accounted for most of the suicides observed over the follow-up period. Compared with controls, male parasuicidal behaviour and females with affective disorder were shown to have a significantly increased risk for future suicides.

Key Words:

• Follow-up
• Mortality
• Psychiatric patients