Mental health inequalities in Wales, UK: multi-level investigation of the effect of area deprivation.
BACKGROUND
Geographical variation in the prevalence of common mental disorders has not been explained adequately.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether regional mental health differences in Wales would persist after having taken into account the characteristics of individuals and regional social deprivation.


METHODS
Data from the 1998 Welsh Health Survey were used. Common mental disorders were assessed with the mental health index included in the Short-Form 36 health survey (SF-36). The data were analysed using a multi-level linear regression model.


RESULTS
Of the total variance in the mental health index, 1.47% occurred at regional level (95% CI 0.56-2.38). Adjustment for individual characteristics did not explain the between-region variation. A higher area deprivation score was associated with a higher score on the mental health index.


CONCLUSIONS
Mental health differences in Wales are partly explained by the level of regional social deprivation.
Skapinakis
Petros
P
Department of Psychiatry, University of Bristol, Cotham House, Cotham Hill, Bristol BS6 6JL, UK. p.skapinakis@bristol.ac.uk
Lewis
Glyn
G
Araya
Ricardo
R
Jones
Kelvyn
K
Williams
Gareth
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology