Work

What can administrative registers tell us about the widening in life expectancy gap in people with mental disorders?

Year: 2025

Type: editorial

Abstract: , a study by Fleetwood and colleagues used Scottish administrative registers to show that not only have people with severe mental illnesses a profoundly reduced average life expectancy compared with the general population, but that the life expectancy gap had been further widening for those with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder over the past 20 years. This study has substantial clinical and public health importance, providing robust evidence to help in evaluation and planning of healthcare services in Scotland. Furthermore, this work raises important questions concerning the study of premature mortality in people with mental disorders per se, as well as the utility of administrative registers to study this phenomenon, which we highlight in this Editorial.

Source: BJPsych Open

DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2025.10927

Authors: Oleguer Plana-Ripoll, Tomáš Formánek, Natalie C. Momen

Institutions: Aarhus University, Barcelona Institute for Global Health

Language: English

Topic: Mental Health Treatment and Access

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,550