Question:

Most common cause of premature death in schizophrenia?

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Self-harm risk is highest early in the illness and in young males.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
  • Homicide
  • Suicide
  • Toxicity of antipsychotic drug
  • Hospital acquired infections
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: The question asks for the single most common cause of premature (early, unnatural) death in patients with schizophrenia.
Step 2: Schizophrenia carries a markedly increased mortality and a shortened life expectancy. Among the unnatural causes of death, suicide is the leading one. Roughly 5 to 10 percent of patients with schizophrenia die by suicide, and risk is highest early in the illness, in young males, and during periods of depression or post-discharge.
Step 3: Reviewing the other options: Homicide (the patient being killed) is far less common. Antipsychotic drug toxicity contributes to morbidity but is not the leading cause of premature death. Hospital acquired infections are an uncommon and non-specific cause.
Step 4: Therefore the correct answer is Suicide.
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