This slide depicts the changes in mortality for Stockholm County patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.

For women, SMRs increased from 2.1 in the period of 1976-1980 to 3.6 in the period 1991 to 1995.  [In other words, by 1991-1995, women with schizophrenia were 3.6 times more likely to die than age-matched healthy controls.]

For men, the changes in mortality ratio were even worse.  SMRs for males diagnosed with schizophrenia increased steadily from 2.6 in the time period of 1976-1980, to  9.4 in the time period of 1991-1995.


Key Point:
These and other “longitudinal” investigations of mortality rates for patients with Serious Mental Illness have revealed a progressive deterioration of longevity in industrialized nations, despite so-called advances in the quality and delivery of pharmaceuticals.