[Cancer mortality in patients of psychiatric hospitals]

Studies on cancer mortality in psychiatric patients, especially schizphrenics, are reviewed. The divergences between these studies may be partially explained by the different statistical methods employed. It is difficult to compare the populations observed, due to the influence of such elements as the method of sampling, the period of observation of psychotic patients, diagnostic methods and criteria etc. On the whole, it is concluded that no major difference could be demonstrated with certainty between a non-selected population of psychotic patients (excluding psychoorganic cases) and the general population. With regard to schizophrenics, the hypothesis of a lower mortality from cancer cannot be ruled out on the grounds of studies carried out at the Lausanne psychiatric clinic. However, reports on cancer incidence have not yet confirmed this hypothesis and further studies are needed to verify it. Various factors are discussed which may modify cancer risk in psychiatric patients in hospital such as tobacco, food, sexual activity, neuropleptics, and biochemical and immunological factors. Lastly, the psychosomatic hypothesis of carcinogenesis is discussed in the framework of this review.