LONG-TERM MORTALITY AFTER FIRST PSYCHIATRIC ADMISSION

Background Little is known about the long-term mortality and causes of death after first psychiatric admission. Method A consecutive series of 87 patients admitted for the first time from a strictly defined cat chment area to Saxondale Hospital, Nottinghamshire, who were discharge d in 1974 and 1975, were traced in 1992 to either their general practi tioner or death. The causes of their deaths were ascertained and the o bserved mortality was compared with expected mortality. Results Twelve subjects had died. None had committed suicide, and there were no open verdicts or accidental deaths. Although the observed mortality was hi gher than expected, there was no significant excess. Conclusions There may be little scope for reducing suicide rates by targeting patients for careful follow-up after discharge from their first psychiatric adm ission. More research is required before large investments are made in potentially fruitless interventions to achieve the objectives of The Health of the Nation.