Mortality data are presented from a 0 to 10 year follow-up of 636 chronic schizophrenic patients. Comparisons were made with the general population of the State of Iowa using sex & age standardized mortality ratios (SMRs). Risk for mortality was found to be most pronounced among men younger than 40 & women younger than 70. No suicides occured in chronic schizophrenic patients over age 40 years. The data was found to demonstrate that patients at greatest risk for premature death are those younger than 40 years. Reasons for these findings are discussed. (30 refs)