Life expectancy is much reduced in people with mental disorders

It has already been established in the past that people with mental illness live shorter lives than others. Depression, anxiety disorders or those related to substance use can lead to premature death. Researchers from the University of Aarhus, Denmark, have conducted the most comprehensive study on the subject. Indeed, they analyzed data from 7.4 million people between 1995 and 2015. The results, published in the journal The Lancetconfirm that in case of mental illness, life expectancy is reduced.

The scientific team, led by Dr. Oleguer Plana-Ripoll, analyzed the mortality rate according to the different mental disorders. “Most studies provide ‘death rates’, which estimate the risk of death in people with mental disorders compared to those without. We studied how the mortality rate changed for each type of disorder, for each age and according to sex. In addition to looking at premature mortality, we were able to explore specific causes of death such as cancer, diabetes and suicide,” says Dr. Oleguer Plana-Ripoll.

Between 7 and 10 years less life expectancy

Thus, the researchers found that men and women with mental disorders had a reduced life expectancy of 10 and 7 years respectively, compared to a person of the same age, without diagnosed mental pathology. “For example, people with depression or another type of mood disorder, which are among the most common mental disorders, had higher death rates. In addition to an increased risk of death from suicide, we also confirm an increased risk of death from cancer, respiratory diseases, diabetes, etc. We found that men and women with mood disorders had a shorter life expectancy of 7.9 and 6.2 years respectively after diagnosis of the disease, compared to the general Danish population of the same age”, explains the main author of the study.

Mental disorder leads to other health problems

If this study confirms that people with mental illnesses generally live less long, it also demonstrates that mental disorders lead to other health problems: cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease. This considerably increases the risk of premature death. “Our study highlights the urgent need to improve the general health of people with mental disorders,” concludes Professor John McGrath, another author of the study.