Mortality among mentally disordered offenders: a community based follow-up study

Area of Science:

• Forensic Psychiatry
• Public Health
• Mortality Studies

Background:

• Assessing outcomes for mentally disordered offenders (MDOs) is crucial for improving forensic psychiatric care quality.
• Limited data exists on the long-term mortality of MDOs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the standard mortality rate (SMR) in a population-based sample of individuals sentenced to forensic psychiatric care.
• To investigate mortality risks among MDOs in Sweden.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 46 MDOs discharged from forensic psychiatric care in Orebro County, Sweden (1992-1999) was identified.
• Data on gender, age, offense, diagnosis, and admission duration were collected.
• Case linkage with the National Cause-of-Death register provided follow-up data (median 53 months).

Main Results:

• The study found a significantly elevated SMR of 13.4 (95% CI 4.35-31.3) compared to the general population.
• Suicide was the predominant cause of the increased mortality rate.

Conclusions:

• Despite a small sample size, the findings are representative and add to international data on MDO mortality.
• The high risk of premature death, particularly suicide, among MDOs necessitates integrating mortality risk assessment into resettlement and rehabilitation services, alongside re-offending risk.