title: Otago Women's Health Survey 30-month follow-up. I: Onset patterns of non-psychotic psychiatric disorder.
abstract: Women who showed new psychiatric morbidity after a 30-month follow-up of a random community sample of New Zealand women were compared with those who were free of psychiatric disorder at follow-up. There were 25 new cases among the 215 women who were originally not psychiatric cases and who were re-interviewed. Using the weighted back population data to obtain prevalence figures for the general population, 6.9% became new cases over the two and a half years. Those who developed psychiatric disorder initially showed more psychiatric symptoms at a subdiagnostic level. Baseline factors that preceded the onset of psychiatric disorder were being separated or divorced, coming from a large family, having poor social networks, living alone, having few social role responsibilities such as paid employment or motherhood, and having poor physical health. An additional cross-sectional association at follow-up was poor financial security. Good social networks were closely linked with the number of a woman's social roles and appeared to protect her against the onset of psychiatric disorder. Consistent with the initial cross-sectional study, the follow-up data provide no support for marriage and child-care being risk factors for female psychiatric disorder. However, in New Zealand, these factors indicate social integration and are associated with superior mental health.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Romans
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McNoe
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Herbison
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Mullen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005783:Gender Identity; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017533:Marital Status / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support