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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 

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