Original Article

Excess mortality of acute and transient psychotic disorders: comparison with bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia

  1. A. Castagnini1,*,
  2. L. Foldager1,2,
  3. A. Bertelsen1

Article first published online: 20 JAN 2013

DOI: 10.1111/acps.12077

Additional Information

How to Cite

Castagnini A, Foldager L, Bertelsen AExcess mortality of acute and transient psychotic disorders: comparison with bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia

Author Information

  1. 1

    Centre for Psychiatric Research, Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov, Denmark

  2. 2

    Bioinformatics Research Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

* Augusto C. Castagnini, Centre for Psychiatric Research, Aarhus University Hospital, Skovagervej 2, 8240 Risskov, Denmark.
E-mail: augusto.castagnini@cpf.au.dk

Publication History

  1. Article first published online: 20 JAN 2013
  2. Manuscript Accepted: 12 DEC 2012

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Keywords:

  • ATPDs;
  • bipolar affective disorder;
  • epidemiology;
  • ICD-10;
  • schizophrenia;
  • suicide

Objective

To investigate mortality and causes of death of short-lived psychotic disorders, by carrying out a comparison with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Method

Record linkage study to the official register of causes of death of all cases aged 15–64 years who were listed for the first time in the Danish Psychiatric Register between 1995 and 2008 with an ICD-10 diagnosis of ‘acute and transient psychotic disorders’ (ATPDs; n = 4157), bipolar disorder (n = 3200) and schizophrenia (n = 4576).

Results

A total of 232 patients (5.6%) with ATPDs, 172 (5.4%) with bipolar disorder and 233 (5.1%) with schizophrenia had died over a mean follow-up period of 6.6 years. The standardized mortality ratio for all causes, natural causes and unnatural causes was significantly high for the three conditions. Mortality of ATPDs was greater in men, with about two-thirds of all deaths resulting from natural causes mainly cardiovascular, digestive, neoplastic and respiratory diseases. Suicide was the major cause of premature death in patients with ATPDs.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that ATPDs are associated with an increased mortality from both natural causes and suicide.

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