I Lynge1, P Munk-Jørgensen, P B Mortensen. 1. Institute of Basic Psychiatric Research, Department of Psychiatric Demography, Psychiatric Hospital in Arhus, Risskov, Denmark.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the treatment incidence, diagnostic stability and clinical and social outcome of affective disorders in the Greenlandic population. METHODS: A cohort of Greenlanders first hospitalized in 1980-1983 and diagnosed with an affective disorder at least once during the period 7 to 12 years after first admission formed the study population. The manic-depressive patients who were still alive at follow-up were invited for a Present State Examination, and information about clinical and social condition was obtained for the total cohort. RESULTS: The rates of manic-depressive psychoses diagnosed at first admission or later were 6.6 for men and 20.4 for women per 100,000 individuals of over 15 years of age. The unipolar:bipolar ratio was very low, namely 1:3 for men and 1:2 for women. Outcome was relatively poor. CONCLUSION: Manic-depression is a recognizable diagnostic category in Greenland. Extremely low rates of unipolar disorders in both sexes and high rates of bipolar disorders among women were the most marked findings.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the treatment incidence, diagnostic stability and clinical and social outcome of affective disorders in the Greenlandic population. METHODS: A cohort of Greenlanders first hospitalized in 1980-1983 and diagnosed with an affective disorder at least once during the period 7 to 12 years after first admission formed the study population. The manic-depressivepatients who were still alive at follow-up were invited for a Present State Examination, and information about clinical and social condition was obtained for the total cohort. RESULTS: The rates of manic-depressive psychoses diagnosed at first admission or later were 6.6 for men and 20.4 for women per 100,000 individuals of over 15 years of age. The unipolar:bipolar ratio was very low, namely 1:3 for men and 1:2 for women. Outcome was relatively poor. CONCLUSION:Manic-depression is a recognizable diagnostic category in Greenland. Extremely low rates of unipolar disorders in both sexes and high rates of bipolar disorders among women were the most marked findings.