Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026
10:32
Development of a Virtual Reality Assessment of Everyday Living Skills
Published on: April 23, 2014
Mortality in schizophrenia: a measurable clinical endpoint
Chris J Bushe1, Mark Taylor, Jari Haukka
1Eli Lilly and Company Ltd, Basingstoke, UK. bushe_chris@lilly.com
Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
|October 7, 2010
Summary
Mortality in schizophrenia is a key clinical endpoint. While the mortality gap may have peaked, suicide, cancer, and cardiovascular disease remain leading causes of death, with antipsychotics showing a potential to reduce mortality.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Epidemiology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Mortality in schizophrenia is a significant clinical endpoint, with recent large datasets providing new insights.
- Key questions remain regarding trends in mortality rates, causes of death, and the impact of antipsychotic treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current data on mortality in schizophrenia.
- To clarify trends in mortality rates, identify primary causes of death, and evaluate the effect of antipsychotic treatments on mortality.
- To explore how these findings can inform future strategies for mortality reduction.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive PubMed search was conducted, focusing on publications from 2006 onwards.
- The review prioritized retrospective epidemiological and prospective studies published predominantly between 2006 and 2009.
- Analysis focused on mortality rates, causes of death, and the impact of antipsychotic interventions.
Main Results:
- The mortality gap between individuals with schizophrenia and the general population, which widened from the 1970s, may have reached its peak around the mid-1990s.
- Suicide, cancer, and cardiovascular disease are the primary causes of mortality, with cancer mortality rates comparable to cardiovascular disease.
- Antipsychotic treatments demonstrate a reduction in mortality compared to no treatment; atypical antipsychotics do not appear to elevate cardiovascular risks over conventional ones, though further research is needed.
Conclusions:
- Mortality in schizophrenia is influenced by factors such as cohort age, follow-up duration, and study design.
- Antipsychotic therapies are associated with reduced mortality, and current evidence suggests atypical antipsychotics do not worsen cardiovascular outcomes compared to older agents.
- Further research is essential to definitively establish the long-term cardiovascular effects of atypical antipsychotics and to optimize strategies for reducing premature mortality in schizophrenia.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those diagnosed.
01:24Kaplan-Meier Approach
The Kaplan-Meier estimator is a non-parametric method used to estimate the survival function from time-to-event data. In medical research, it is frequently employed to measure the proportion of patients surviving for a certain period after treatment. This estimator is fundamental in analyzing time-to-event data, making it indispensable in clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and reliability engineering. By estimating survival probabilities, researchers can evaluate treatment effectiveness,...
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
01:26Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation. For...
01:29Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
01:30Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia indicate a reduction or absence of typical behaviors and emotional responses found in healthy individuals, while positive symptoms reflect an excess or distortion of normal functioning.
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...