12 Feb Patients With Mental Disorders Have Increased Risk of Death

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Elizabeth Walker, PhD, MPH, MAT
FIRST Postdoctoral Fellow
Center for Behavioral Health Policy Studies
Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University

Medical Research: What is the background for this study?

Response: Mental disorders are a major cause of disability globally and are associated with premature mortality.  Quantifying and understanding excess mortality among people with mental disorders can inform approaches for reducing this burden.  The purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature in order to estimate individual- and population-level mortality rates associated with mental disorders.  We conducted a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis, which included 203 studies from 29 countries.

Medical Research: What are the main findings?

Response: We estimated that 8 million deaths worldwide per year are attributable to mental disorders.  People with mental disorders have over 2 times the risk of mortality compared to the general population or people without mental disorders.  This translates to a median of 10 years of life lost.  In total, 67.3% of people with mental disorders died from natural causes, 17.5% from unnatural causes, and the remainder from unknown causes.

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Response: In order to reduce the burden of mental disorders at both an individual and population level, there must be a focus on both less prevalent but more severe diagnoses, such as psychoses, and more common mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety.  Efforts to address premature mortality must include several approaches, including prevention and care of chronic medical conditions and suicide prevention.

Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: Future research should examine the factors that contribute to excess mortality among people with mental disorders at a population level.  It is important to consider the magnitude of such factors as socioeconomic status, health behaviors, comorbid medical and mental conditions, and access and quality of treatment.

Citation:

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MedicalResearch.com Interview with:, & Elizabeth Walker, PhD, MPH, MAT (2015). Patients With Mental Disorders Have Increased Risk of Death MedicalResearch.com

Last Updated on February 12, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD