Life expectancy gap for people with schizophrenia ‘worse than 20 years ago’ – research

The life expectancy gap between people with schizophrenia in Scotland and those without mental health issues is more severe than it was two decades ago, according to research.

Statisticians from the University of Edinburgh used two decades of data – from 2000 to 2019 – to examine gaps in life expectancy over time for 118,000 people in Scotland with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression.

In 2019 people with schizophrenia died on average 11 years earlier than those without a severe mental illness – a widening gap compared to 2000, when there was a nine-year difference.

Despite people generally living longer in 2019 than in 2000, there is a persistent gap in life expectancy gap, according to statisticians.

The study also found no improvement in the life expectancy gap between those with major depression or bipolar disorder and the general population over the same period, which remained around seven years.

Most premature deaths were due to natural causes, reflecting the poorer physical health of those with a severe mental illness, according to the study.

Experts suggested that taking a combined approach to managing both mental and physical health could help to improve care and outcomes.

The research team were unable to access data for the period 2020-2024, covering the pandemic.

However, reports of higher Covid mortality in people with a severe mental illness suggest the life expectancy gap may have widened further, according to statisticians.

Kelly Fleetwood, statistician from the University of Edinburgh’s Usher Institute, said: “It’s now well established that people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression have a lower life expectancy than people without such illnesses.

“What’s most disappointing about our findings is the lack of progress in closing this gap over the last 20 years, and a possible widening of the gap for people with schizophrenia.

“Addressing this entrenched disparity requires equitable social and health policies to prevent and treat poor physical health amongst people with mental illness.”