Psychotic disorders: mortality in schizophrenia: practice question

A Psychiatry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Psychiatry · Psychotic disorders: mortality in schizophrenia

Sample item

A public-health team reviews deaths in people with schizophrenia, who live 10 to 20 years less than the general population. Which cause accounts for the largest number of deaths overall?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Natural causes, chiefly cardiovascular disease

Most excess deaths in schizophrenia are from natural causes, mainly cardiovascular and metabolic disease linked to smoking, sedentary life, antipsychotic metabolic effects and poor access to care. Suicide carries the highest proportional excess in young patients but fewer deaths in total.

Option by option

  • A. Suicide

    Suicide is a major cause, particularly early in illness, but is outnumbered by natural deaths.

  • B. Homicide

    Homicide is a rare cause of death in this group.

  • C. Road traffic accidents

    Road accidents contribute a small share of total deaths.

  • D. Natural causes, chiefly cardiovascular disease (correct)

    Correct. Cardiovascular and other natural causes account for the majority of deaths.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is D, Natural causes, chiefly cardiovascular disease. Most excess deaths in schizophrenia are from natural causes, mainly cardiovascular and metabolic disease linked to smoking, sedentary life, antipsychotic metabolic effects and poor access to care.

Why is "Suicide" not the answer?

Suicide is a major cause, particularly early in illness, but is outnumbered by natural deaths.

Why is "Homicide" not the answer?

Homicide is a rare cause of death in this group.

Why is "Road traffic accidents" not the answer?

Road accidents contribute a small share of total deaths.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Psychotic disorders: mortality in schizophrenia in Psychiatry. Suicide carries the highest proportional excess in young patients but fewer deaths in total.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Psychotic disorders: mortality in schizophrenia?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.