Canadian trends in mortality from mental disorders, 1965-1983

This report describes trends in the death rate for all mental disorders, presenile and senile dementia, and alcoholic psychoses and alcohol abuse/dependence in Canada for the period 1965-1983. It is demonstrated that overall there has been an increase in the death rate for each of these causes of mortality, both for males and females, and that in the case of presenile and senile dementia the increase has been particularly rapid. The older age groups appear to be contributing most to the observed changes. Conjectures are made as to the underlying reasons for the observed trends.