Cancer Mortality in Psychiatric Patients: The IOWA Record-Linkage Study

Abstract

Of 5,412 patients admitted to the University of Iowa Psychiatric Hospital over a ten-year period, forty-six died of cancer during follow-up, which did not differ significantly from expected. Significant excess mortality from cancer was present within the first two years of follow-up. At risk during this period were women and patients with organic mental disorders. A review of relevant literature is presented.