A Record-linkage Study of Mortality and General Hospital Discharge in Patients Diagnosed as Schizophrenic

The number of deaths, discharges & operations observed for 600 schizophrenics were compared in age, sex & major diagnostic groups with expected numbers for the Oxfordshire (Australia) population over 10 years. Observed deaths were twice as numerous as expected in both sexes, & general hospital discharges were also higher. Ischaemic heart disease was the commonest cause of death. Trauma & poisoning accounted for the excess of both deaths in young members & of general hospital discharges overall.