Psychiatric Drugs and Death

Psychiatric label can mean dying 25 years or more earlier.

This 16 State Study reveals increased morbidity and mortality of those diagnosed with serious mental disorders. That is, people with certain psychiatric diagnoses die 25 years or more earlier than others! The study, conducted by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) and published in October, 2006, attributes the increased mortality of mental health clients to preventable conditions, ranging from smoking, prescription medications and substance abuse, to diabetes, obesity, homelessness and suicide. The study authors note that atypical antipsychotics, in particular, are increasingly associated with preventable conditions that contribute to increased mortality (i.e., weight gain, diabetes, insulin resitance, and metabolic syndrome). Furthermore, among a host of health service quality issues, access to health care is typically hindered by systemic flaws, under-funding, and discrimination against mental health consumers.

A Mix of Medicines That Can Be Lethal

The death of a teen college student in a New York Hospital leads to highly publicized court battle over quality of care rendered by young, overworked doctors, reports the New York Times. The specific cause of death was eventually determined to be a form of polypharmceutical drug poisoning called serotonin syndrome. Such fatal outcomes have become increasingly common with the enormous rise in the use of serotonin-enhancing antidepressants taken in combination with other neurotoxic drugs.

4 Year Old Girl Dies from Clonidine Overdose

A four year old girl died from on overdose of Clonodine. Medical experts also told prosecutors that Clonidine is normally only given to adults.

Authorities: 9 prescriptions “killed” Anna Nicole Smith

Media reported 26 March 2007 that authorities have concluded that celebrity/playmate Anna Nicole Smith was on nine prescriptions drugs “that killed her.” Several of these prescriptions were psychiatric drugs.

Schizophrenia, neuroleptic medication and mortality

An article about how taking neuroleptic psychiatric drugs is related to increased death rate. The 2006 research report by Matti Joukamaa, MD, PhD, et al. was published in British Medical Journal.

PowerPoint on Mortality and Morbidity of People in Mental Health System

This is a “PowerPoint” file of slides you may download about mortality and morbidity of people in the mental health system. The PowerPoint show was created by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) in 2006.

Heat Wave + Forced Neuroleptics = Death

MindFreedom Warning: The combination of a heat wave and laws requiring people to take powerful psychiatric drugs in their own homes on an “outpatient basis” can kill. Mainstream media are not adequately warning the public. Neuroleptics, also known as “antipsychotics,” can suppress the ability of the body to adjust to heat.

State of Oregon: Measuring Premature Mortality among Oregonians

You may download a PDF of a report from the State of Oregon, published 10 June 2008, about how Oregonians in the mental health system have a higher mortality rate than the general population.

Alzheimer’s drugs double death risk in elderly

One more piece of scientific evidence that neuroleptics may be the reason people in public mental health system die so many years earlier than the general population.