Accidents among schizophrenic outpatients.

A preliminary comparison of traffic, home, and work accident incidence was performed among 103 outpatient schizophrenic patients and an age matched sample of 123 controls. The number of motor vehicle drivers among schizophrenic outpatients was far less than among controls (70 of 103 versus 122 of 123; P = .00001). Among those who did drive, schizophrenic patients drove far less than controls (19 of 70 patients driving greater than or equal to 5,000 miles per year versus 81 of 122 controls; P = .0001). Patients also reported more accidents per miles driven than did controls, consistent with previous studies. Older patients reported more home accidents than did younger patients (five of eight for those over 55 years versus four of 95 for those less than 55; P = .0007); no similar effect was observed among controls. Schizophrenic outpatients may be at greater risk of motor vehicle accidents per miles driven than age matched controls; elderly patients may be at higher risk of home accidents as well.