Clinically useful predictors for premature mortality among psychiatric patients visiting a psychiatric emergency room.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine changes in the distribution of causes of death and mortality rates among psychiatric patients visiting a psychiatric emergency room (PER), to determine clinically useful predictors for avoiding premature mortality among these patients and to discuss possible interventions.

Method: The study was designed as a historical prospective record linkage study of patients with at least one visit to a Danish PER in 1995-2007. Five consecutive 3-year cohorts of individuals aged 20 to <80 years were identified.