Mortality in a cohort of long-term users of community psychiatric services

Abstract

A cohort of 181 users of community psychiatric services in Camberwell with at least one year's history of contact was traced for two years following a census day. Four of the eight patients who had been given a primary diagnosis of an organic condition died during this period. For the others the population-standardized mortality risk was 2.4, similar to rates previously found for in-patients with acute disorders. The causes of death were those that are common in the population. Only one suicide was recorded.