Cited by 2,280Schizophrenia research and treatmentMental Health Treatment and AccessMental Health and Psychiatry

Schizophrenia: A Concise Overview of Incidence, Prevalence, and Mortality

McGrath, J., Saha, S., Chant, D., Welham, J.·2008·Epidemiologic Reviews

Abstract

Recent systematic reviews have encouraged the psychiatric research community to reevaluate the contours of schizophrenia epidemiology. This paper provides a concise overview of three related systematic reviews on the incidence, prevalence, and mortality associated with schizophrenia. The reviews shared key methodological features regarding search strategies, analysis of the distribution of the frequency estimates, and exploration of the influence of key variables (sex, migrant status, urbanicity, secular trend, economic status, and latitude). Contrary to previous interpretations, the incidence of schizophrenia shows prominent variation between sites. The median incidence of schizophrenia was 15.2/100,000 persons, and the central 80% of estimates varied over a fivefold range (7.7-43.0/100,000). The rate ratio for males:females was 1.4:1. Prevalence estimates also show prominent variation. The median lifetime morbid risk for schizophrenia was 7.2/1,000 persons. On the basis of the standardized mortality ratio, people with schizophrenia have a two- to threefold increased risk of dying (median standardized mortality ratio = 2.6 for all-cause mortality), and this differential gap in mortality has increased over recent decades. Compared with native-born individuals, migrants have an increased incidence and prevalence of schizophrenia. Exposures related to urbanicity, economic status, and latitude are also associated with various frequency measures. In conclusion, the epidemiology of schizophrenia is characterized by prominent variability and gradients that can help guide future research.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1093/epirev/mxn001

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Authors
McGrath, J., Saha, S., Chant, D., & Welham, J.
Affiliations
  • The University of Queensland (AU)
  • Park Centre for Mental Health (AU)
Venue
Epidemiologic Reviews
Published
2008-05-14
Volume
30
Issue
1
Pages
67-76
ISSN
  • 0193-936X (ISSN-L)
  • 1478-6729
OpenAlex
W2105527159
Cited by
2,280
References
85
Citations by year
2026: 89 · 2025: 139 · 2024: 168 · 2023: 150 · 2022: 193 · 2021: 181 · 2020: 157 · 2019: 185 · 2018: 161 · 2017: 157 · 2016: 140 · 2015: 150 · 2014: 92 · 2013: 96 · 2012: 84
FWCI
5.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Epidemiologic Reviews (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
  • Griffith Research Online (submittedVersion)
Funders
Stanley Medical Research Institute
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Mental Health and Psychiatry
Keywords
schizophrenia, incidence, prevalence, mortality, standardized mortality ratio, sex differences, migrant status, urbanicity, economic status, latitude, secular trends, regional variation
MeSH terms
Humans, Risk Factors, Schizophrenia, Incidence, Prevalence

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