American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 94, No. 2: 126-134
Copyright © 1971 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health
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SELECTED ASPECTS OF THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF PSYCHOSES IN CROATIA, YUGOSLAVIA
III. THE CLUSTER SAMPLE AND THE RESULTS OF THE PILOT SURVEY1
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2Union Research Project, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205. During the study Mr. Crocetti was in the Department of Mental Hygiene. School of Hygiene and Public Health
3Department of Mental Hygiene, the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health Baltimore, Maryland 21205
4Department of Chronic Diseases, Institute of Public Health of Croatia Zagreb, Yugoslavia
5Department of Public Health Administration, Andrija
tampar School of Public Health Zagreb, Yugoslavia
Crocetti, G. M., P. V. Lemkau (Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Md. 21205),
. Kul
ar and B. Kesi
. Selected aspects of the epidemiology of psychoses in Croatia, Yugoslavia. III. The cluster sample and the results of the pilot survey. Amer J Epidem 94: 126134,1971.The third of a three-part series, on prevalence of psychoses in Croatia, reports on a house-to-house survey of 22 cluster sample units, each of about 200 households12 cluster units in the region of Rijeka and 10 in the Zagreb region. Interviewers referred suspected cases to psychiatrists for examination and establishment of the diagnosis. The data indicate that prevalence rates are higher in Rijeka than in Zagreb. The increase is most marked in the "functional" psychosis group, is mainly concentrated in the 3549 age group, but is also high in the over 50 age group for females with manic and depressive psychoses. Indigenous persons in Rijeka rather than those born elsewhere account for the higher prevalence. The differences in the rates between the two communities do not appear to be due to availability of medical services, urbanization, etc. Some differences in characteristics between patients from the two communities may indicate differences in social environment and are suggestive of possible etiologic significance. The present research was designed to document any differences in rates of psychoses in the two areas and to evaluate survey methods. It is recommended that when the difference in prevalence is conclusively determined, a study should then be made of incidence for greater insight as to etiology.
epidemiology; hospitalization; interview, psychological; mental disorders; psychoses; schizophrenia
1 This part of the study was supported by Grant No. 5R01 MH15549 from the National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Additional funds and services were supplied by the Andrija
tampar School of Public Health and the Croatian Institute of Public Health, both in Zagreb. Local public health authorities kindly contributed housing and food for interviewers, and invaluable help in many aspects of the study