Adolescent psychiatric in-patients. A high-risk group for premature death.
BACKGROUND
Research has demonstrated increased mortality rates in adolescent psychiatric in-patients.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate this excess mortality by calculating standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) relative to cause of death, diagnosis, cohort and age.


METHODS
A nationwide Norwegian sample of 1095 former adolescent psychiatric in-patients were followed up 15-33 years after first hospitalisation by record linkage to the National Death Cause Registry.


RESULTS
The SMR was significantly increased for almost all causes of death investigated. In males, all psychiatric diagnoses had significantly increased SMRs, whereas in females, organic mental disorder, anxiety disorder and affective disorder had non-significantly increased SMRs. The SMR was significantly elevated for all age-spans and cohorts investigated.


CONCLUSIONS
A broad prevention strategy is needed to combat the increased mortality rates found in adolescent psychiatric in-patients.
Kjelsberg
E
E
Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Oslo, Norway.
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002423:Cause of Death; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000401:mortality*; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors