Amish Study, I: Affective disorders among the Amish, 1976-1980.
The authors review the goals, methods, sample, and selected epidemiologic findings from a collaborative study of affective disorders among the Amish. This culturally and genetically homogeneous population (N = 12,500) constitutes an excellent research setting for psychiatric epidemiologic and genetic study. Alcoholism, drug abuse, and sociopathy did not complicate the study because they are culturally prohibited. During 1976-1980, 112 active cases of mental illness were identified; 71% received diagnoses of major affective disorder. Equal numbers of men and women received diagnoses of unipolar illness, and slightly more men than women were diagnosed as having bipolar illness.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D010375:Pedigree; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012107:Research Design; D012737:Sex Factors