title: Comparison of the incidence of schizophrenia in rural Dumfries and Galloway and urban Camberwell.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Being born or living in urban areas is associated with high rates of schizophrenia. However, few studies have compared the incidence in urban/rural areas using the same methodology.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare service-based incidence rates for schizophrenia in rural Dumfries and Galloway in south-west Scotland with urban Camberwell in south-east London.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using Research Diagnostic Criteria diagnoses from the OPCRIT computer algorithm, we compared the incidence of schizophrenia over 12 years (1979-1984 and 1992-1997) using indirect standardisation techniques and Poisson regression modelling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence was 61% higher in urban Camberwell than in rural Dumfries and Galloway (standardised incidence ratio (SIR)=1.61; 95% CI=1.42-1.81). There was no difference in incidence when we compared the White population in Camberwell with Dumfries and Galloway (SIR=1.12; 95% CI=0.86-1.43).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of schizophrenia in urban Camberwell was higher than that in rural Dumfries and Galloway; the high incidence of non-Whites in Camberwell largely explains the urban/rural difference.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research, Crichton Royal Hospital, Dumfries DG1 4TG, UK. j.allardyce@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Allardyce
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boydell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Os
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Castle
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: McCreadie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*