Psychiatry, It's A Killing.: Risk of Premature Death and Violent Crime Associated With Schizophrenia Diagnosis Rising

June 4, 2014

Rates of adverse outcomes, including premature death and violent crime, have increased among people with schizophrenia and related diagnoses since the 1970s when compared to the general population. This is according to research published in Volume 1, Issue 1 of Lancet Psychiatry by the University of Oxford and the Karolinska Institute. The study looks at the total population of 24,297 people diagnosed with schizophrenia in Sweden between 1972 and 2009. The researchers compared, for the first time, adverse outcomes in both people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and the general population, as well as unaffected siblings, allowing them to account for factors which might affect the risk of suicide or violent behavior.

Fazel, S., Wolf, A., Palm, C., Lichtenstein, P.; Violent crime, suicide, and premature mortality in patients with schizophrenia and related disorders: a 38-year total population study in Sweden.Lancet Psychiatry. Vol. 1, Issue 1, Pages 44-54, June 2014. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(14)70223-8

Increasing rates of premature death, conviction for a violent crime in people with schizophrenia since 1970s, study shows (Science Daily)

Increasing rates of untimely loss of life, conviction for a violent crime in people with schizophrenia considering the fact that 1970s, study displays (NewsDuet)