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Hypotheses linking neuroses with premature mortality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Andrew Sims
Andrew Sims*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr A. C. P. Sims, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham B152TH.
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Synopsis

The death risk for psychiatric patients has decreased over the last 30 years but still remains higher than that of the general population. The death risk for patients with a diagnosis of neurosis is higher than that for the general population. Previous studies are enlisted to investigate this mortality for socio-economic characteristics, alcohol and drug abuse, psychopathy and accident proneness. Possible psychosomatic aetiology of disease and subsequent death is examined. Psychological theories for premature death are discussed and some recommendations made for future areas of enquiry.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , May 1978 , pp. 255 - 263
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

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