Mortality in Psychiatric Patients, With a Specific Focus on Cancer Mortality Associated With Schizophrenia

Higher mortality rates among psychiatric patients compared with the general population have been widely reported. Lower cancer mortality for schizophrenics has been occasionally pointed out. A total of 4980 patients admitted to a Japanese hospital from 1948-1982 were studied. The standardized mortality ratios (SMR) for stomach cancer in male schizophrenics was significantly lower. Suicide information is included in the charts.