The Nordic Comparative Study on Sectorized Psychiatry. III. Accessibility of psychiatric services, degree of urbanization and treated incidence.
As part of a Nordic Comparative Study on Sectorized Psychiatry, accessibility of psychiatric services and degree of urbanization in seven catchment areas were related to treated incidence. One-year treated incidence cohorts were used. Accessibility was assessed according to referral practice, existence of a round the clock emergency service and geographical location of the services. Accessibility was surprisingly weakly associated with treated incidence. Easy access to the psychiatric services was not related to a high treated incidence of less severe psychiatric problems at the expense of patients suffering from severe illness. Geographical distance to the services did not predict the demand for services. A positive correlation was found between the degree of urbanization and treated incidence of psychoses but not of other diagnostic groups.
Saarento
O
O
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Finland.
Oiesvold
T
T
Göstas
G
G
Christiansen
L W
LW
Lindhardt
A
A
Lönnerberg
O
O
Sandlund
M
M
Hansson
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002391:Catchment Area, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012537:Scandinavian and Nordic Countries / Q000453:epidemiology; D014507:Urbanization