The Journal of Practical Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (12): 2259-2266.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2026.12.023

• Reviews • Previous Articles    

Research progress on the causes and mechanisms of premature mortality in patients with severe mental disorders

Feihong CHEN1,Shanling JI1,Yanuo XUN2,Hao YU1,Xia LIU2()   

  1. 1.Institute of Mental Health,Jining Medical University,Jining 272067,Shandong,China
    2.Department of Psychiatry,Shandong Daizhuang Hospital,Jining 272067,Shandong,China
  • Received:2026-03-10 Online:2026-06-25 Published:2026-06-30
  • Contact: Xia LIU E-mail:liuxia.099@163.com

Abstract:

Premature mortality represents a significant public-health challenge among patients with severe mental disorders (SMD), as their life expectancy is considerably shorter than that of the general population. However, the patterns of causes of death and the underlying mechanisms have not been systematically synthesized yet. This article reviews the latest research on premature mortality in SMD and classifies the causes into unnatural and natural deaths, while emphasizing the exacerbating effects of healthcare-and caregiving-related factors. It further examines the differences in direct causes of death and high-risk stages among different types of SMD, and explores the underlying mechanisms from biological, psychological-behavioral, and social viewpoints. Based on these findings, stratified intervention strategies guided by cause-mechanism pathways are put forward to reduce premature mortality. Future studies integrating cohort designs, multidisciplinary collaboration, and artificial intelligence may enhance the precision and effectiveness of interventions and contribute to reducing the related public-health burden.

Key words: severe mental disorders, premature mortality, cause of death, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder

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