Abstract

Background Mental disorders are associated with increased mortality, but population-based surveys with reliable diagnostic procedures controlling for somatic health status are scarce. Aims To assess excess mortality associated with depressive, anxiety and alcohol use disorders and the principal causes of death. Method In a nationally representative sample of Finns aged 30-70 years, psychiatric disorders were diagnosed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. After an 8-year follow-up period, vital status and cause of death of each participant was obtained from national registers. Results After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, health status and smoking, depressive (hazard ratio (HR)=1.97) and alcohol use disorders (HR=1.72) were statistically significantly associated with mortality. Risk of unnatural death was increased among individuals diagnosed with anxiety disorders or alcohol dependence. Conclusions Individuals with depressive and alcohol use disorders have an increased mortality risk comparable with many chronic somatic conditions, that is only partly attributable to differences in sociodemographic, somatic health status and hazardous health behaviour.