Mortality in Danish psychiatric long-stay patients, 1972-1982

By use of the computerized, nationwide psychiatric case register in Denmark, 3 cohorts of psychiatric patients hospitalized for at least one year in 1972, 1977 and 1982, respectively, were identified and followed until April 1, 1988, regarding cause of death. A decline in overall excess mortality compared with the general population was seen from the 1972 cohort to the 1982 cohort irrespective of sex, age group and diagnosis. To analyse cause of death, 298 long-stay patients at Aarhus Psychiatric Hospital were followed for 5.5 years. Lung diseases caused the highest excess mortality. The authors emphasize that risk of death in long-stay patients below 50 years of age is still fourfold compared with the general population and point to the necessity of improving medical care.