April's article of the month: mental disorders reduce life expectancy by up to 11 years in Catalonia

This study was conducted by researchers from the Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute, the University of Barcelona, and Aarhus University, and included the decisive contribution of Dr. Beatriz Olaya, associate professor at the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at the UAB. The study analyzed health data from more than half a million adults diagnosed with a mental disorder in Catalonia between 2005 and 2016, with the aim of estimating the reduction in life expectancy associated with different mental disorders and identifying the main contributing causes of death.

Published in the first-quartile journal Psychiatry Research, this is the first study in Catalonia to quantify years of life lost based on the type of mental disorder and cause of death. Using population records and advanced statistical models, the authors were able to break down the impact of mental disorders on physical health and longevity in great detail.

Key Findings

The results show that all individuals with mental disorders have a significantly shorter life expectancy than the general population of the same age and sex. The greatest losses in life years were observed in people with substance use disorders (11.4 years less in men and 11.8 in women), schizophrenia (11 years less in men and 8.5 in women), and other non-affective psychoses.

Although mental disorders are often linked to suicide risk, the study reveals that most years of life lost are due to natural causes, especially cardiovascular disease and cancer. Among women, cancer is the main cause of premature death across nearly all types of mental disorders. In men, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause, particularly in cases of schizophrenia and personality disorders.

The study also highlights that men with mental disorders lose more years due to external causes (such as suicide or accidents) than women. For example, men with personality disorders lose an average of 1.7 years due to suicide, compared to 0.9 years in women with the same diagnosis.

Study Implications

This study underscores the urgent need to address mental disorders from a holistic perspective that considers not only mental but also physical health. The findings suggest that improving the prevention, detection, and treatment of physical illnesses in people with mental disorders could significantly reduce premature mortality.

The authors stress the importance of integrating medical and psychological care, promoting healthy lifestyles, and improving access to healthcare services. They also emphasize that men with mental disorders are particularly vulnerable to deaths from external causes, and that suicide prevention strategies should be a public health priority.

Furthermore, this research provides valuable information to guide public policies and health programs aimed at reducing health inequalities and improving the quality and life expectancy of people with mental disorders in Catalonia.