Schizophrenia and sudden death - A medical examiner case study

This study reviews the causes of sudden death of 66 schizophrenic patients who presented to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) for the St ate of Maryland over a 3-year period from 1994 through 1996. We identified an increased incidence of suicide compared with the general population of O CME cases. This observation is consistent with reports by other investigato rs. The majority of the deaths were the result of natural diseases, mostly atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Accidents, suicides, and 1 homicide were also present in this group.