Causes of death in DSM-III schizophrenics and other psychotics (atypical group). A comparison with the general population.

Causes of death were determined in a cohort of DSM-III schizophrenics and in a group of "other" psychotics (with schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, and atypical psychoses), and comparisons were made with the general population. Five causes of death were considered in this analysis: (1) infections, (2) neoplasms, (3) cardiovascular, (4) unnatural, and (5) other. Suicide occurred in excess among other psychotics compared with schizophrenics and with the general population.