Year: 2000 Source: British Journal of Psychiatry, v.176, (January 2000), p.76-82 SIEC No: 20011371

This study describes the pattern of mortality in patients with affective disorder & examines changes in suicide risk during the study period. All patients (n=54103) admitted for the first time to a psychiatric hospital in Denmark during 1973-1993 because of affective disorder were included. The mortality rate was compared with that of the general population. Mortality from natural & unnatural causes was elevated in all subgroups of affective disorder. The risk of suicide among patients ill for 1 year or less after first admission increased during the study period.