TY - JOUR
T1 - Geographical variation in rates of common mental disorders in Britain: a prospective cohort study
AU - Twigg, Liz
AU - Scott, W.
AU - Lewis, G.
AU - Jones, K.
PY - 2005/7/1
Y1 - 2005/7/1
N2 - BACKGROUND: There is little geographical variation in the prevalence of the common mental disorders. However, there is little longitudinal research. AIMS: To estimate variance in rates of common mental disorders at individual, household and electoral ward levels prospectively. METHOD:
A 12-month cohort study of 7659 adults aged 16-74 years in 4338 private households, in 626 electoral wards. Data were collected as part of the British Household Panel Survey. Common mental disorders were assessed using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Ward-level socio-economic deprivation was measured using the Carstairs index.
RESULTS: Less than 1% of total variance, in onset and maintenance of common mental disorders and change in GHQ score between waves, occurred at ward level. However, 12% of variance, which is a statistically significant difference, was found at household level (a much smaller geographical unit) and this difference remained after further analyses.
CONCLUSIONS: Ward level socio-economic deprivation does not influence the onset and maintenance of common mental disorders in Britain but local factors at the household level do. Reasons for this remain unclear
AB - BACKGROUND: There is little geographical variation in the prevalence of the common mental disorders. However, there is little longitudinal research. AIMS: To estimate variance in rates of common mental disorders at individual, household and electoral ward levels prospectively. METHOD:
A 12-month cohort study of 7659 adults aged 16-74 years in 4338 private households, in 626 electoral wards. Data were collected as part of the British Household Panel Survey. Common mental disorders were assessed using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Ward-level socio-economic deprivation was measured using the Carstairs index.
RESULTS: Less than 1% of total variance, in onset and maintenance of common mental disorders and change in GHQ score between waves, occurred at ward level. However, 12% of variance, which is a statistically significant difference, was found at household level (a much smaller geographical unit) and this difference remained after further analyses.
CONCLUSIONS: Ward level socio-economic deprivation does not influence the onset and maintenance of common mental disorders in Britain but local factors at the household level do. Reasons for this remain unclear
U2 - 10.1192/bjp.187.1.29
DO - 10.1192/bjp.187.1.29
M3 - Article
VL - 187
SP - 29
EP - 34
JO - British Journal of Psychiatry
JF - British Journal of Psychiatry
SN - 0007-1250
IS - 1
ER -