Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T21:36:19.745Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Social indicators and the prediction of psychiatric admission in different diagnostic groups

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Anthony P. Boardman*
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Psychiatry, School of Postgraduate Medicine, Keele University
Richard E. Hodgson
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Psychiatry, School of Postgraduate Medicine, Keele University
Martyn Lewis
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Psychiatry, School of Postgraduate Medicine, Keele University
Keith Allen
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Psychiatry, School of Postgraduate Medicine, Keele University
*
Dr A. P. Boardman, Academic Department of Psychiatry, School of Postgraduate Medicine. Keele University, Thornburrow Drive, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent. Staffordshire ST4 7QB

Abstract

Background

Recent findings indicate that the established association between social indicators of deprivation and psychiatric admission rates may not hold across all diagnoses.

Method

Admission rates in individuals aged 16–64 years for 71 electoral wards in North Staffordshire were calculated for six diagnostic groups using data from the Korner Episode System for 1987–1993. These were correlated with selected individual census variables, Townsend and Jarman indices. The ability of regression models to predict admission rates was tested.

Results

The strongest correlations were found for total admissions (r 0.44–0.79). Strong correlations were found for neurotic disorders/depression (r 0.29–0.62), schizophrenia (r 0.24–0.59), all non-psychotic disorders combined (r 0.41–0.71) and all psychotic disorders combined (r 0.33–0.67). Predicted admission rates for total admissions, psychotic and non-psychotic admissions using regression models showed strong positive correlations with observed admission rates.

Conclusions

The strong correlations between social indicators of deprivation and total psychotic admission rates are consistent with the results of previous studies. The strong associations between social indicators and admissions for non-psychotic disorders is contrary to previous findings and may be partly explained by the relatively high admission rates for neurotic disorders.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Burgess, P. M., Joyce, C. M., Pattison, P. E., et al (1992) Social indicators and the prediction of psychiatric inpatient utilisation. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatrie Epidemiology, 27, 8394.Google Scholar
Campbell, D. A., Radford, J. M. C. & Burton, P. (1991) Unemployment rates: an alternative to the Jarman index? British Medical Journal, 303, 750755.Google Scholar
Ferris, R. & Dunham, H. (1939) Mental Disorders in Urban Areas. Chicago. IL: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Harrison, J., Barrow, S. & Creed, F. (1995) Social deprivation and psychotic admission rates among different diagnostic groups. British Journal of Psychiatry, 167, 456462.Google Scholar
Hirsch, S. R. (1988) Psychiatric Beds and Resources: Factors Influencing Bed Use and Service Planning. London: Gaskell.Google Scholar
Hall, O. & Royse, D. (1987) Mental health needs assessment with social indicators: an empirical case study. Administration in Mental Health, 15, 3646.Google Scholar
Jarman, B. (1983) Identification of underprivileged areas. British Medical Journal, 286, 17051709.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jarman, B. (1984) Underprivileged areas: validation and distribution of scores. British Medical Journal, 289, 15871592.Google Scholar
Jarman, B. Hirsch, S., White, P., et al (1992) Predicting psychiatric admission rates. British Medical Journal, 304, 11461151.Google Scholar
Jarvis, E. (1851) On the supposed increase of insanity. American Journal of Insanity, 8, 333364.Google Scholar
Kammerling, R. M. & O'Connor, S. (1993) Unemployment rate as a predictor of psychiatric admissions. British Medical Journal, 307, 15361539.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moschel, G. (1987) Use of social and demographic data in the planning and evaluation of mental health services. In Mental Health Services in Pilot Study Areas. Report on a European Study. pp. 2952. Copenhagen: World Health Organization Regional Office.Google Scholar
Pablo, R. Y. & McDougall, G. M. (1986) Ecological correlates of psychiatric illness in the city of Calgary. Social Indicators Research, 18, 205220.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tansella, M., Bisoffi, G. & Thornicroft, G. (1993) Are social deprivation and psychiatric service utilisation associated with neurotic disorders? Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 28, 225230.Google Scholar
Thornicroft, G. (1991) Social deprivation and rates of treated mental disorder. British Journal of Psychiatry, 158, 475484.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thornicroft, G., Bisoffi, G., De Salvia, D., et al (1993) Urban–rural differences in the associations between social deprivation and psychiatric service utilisation in schizophrenia and all diagnoses: a case-register study in Northern Italy. Psychological Medicine, 23, 487496.Google Scholar
Townsend, P., Phillimore, P. & Beattie, A. (1988) Health and Deprivation. Inequality and the North. London: Croom Helm.Google Scholar
White, W. (1903) The geographical distribution of insanity in the United States. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 30, 257279.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
World Health Organization (1978) Mental Disorders: Glossary and Guide to their Classification in Accordance with the Ninth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD–9). Geneva: WHO.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.