This study examined standardized mortality ratios (SMR) by age, sex, diagnosis & cause of death for psychiatric hospitalized patients in Israel in 1978. Excess mortality was found in all diagnostic groups for death from both natural & unnatural causes. The SMR for death by suicide was lower than that reported in the literature. The highest excess mortality was due to respiratory & infectious diseases in all groups, especially among young alcoholics & drug addicts (SMR=273). (CM)