BACKGROUND: Studies of urban-rural differences in prevalence of non-psychotic mental disorder have not given consistent findings. Such differences have received relatively little study in Great Britain. METHODS: Data from 9777 subjects in the Household Survey of the National Morbidity Survey of Great Britain were analysed for differences between urban, semi-rural and rural areas. Psychiatric morbidity was assessed by scores on the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R), together with alcohol dependence, drug dependence, receipt of treatment from general practitioners. Associations with other characteristics were examined by logistic regression. RESULTS: Urban subjects had higher rates than rural of CIS-R morbidity, alcohol dependence and drug dependence, with semi-rural subjects intermediate. Urban subjects also tended to be members of more deprived social groups, with more adverse living circumstances and greater life stress, factors themselves associated with disorder. Urban-rural differences in alcohol and drug dependence were no longer significant after adjustment for these factors by logistic regression, and differences on CIS-R morbidity were considerably reduced. There were no differences in treatment. CONCLUSIONS: There are considerable British urban rural differences in mental health, which may largely be attributable to more adverse urban social environments.
BACKGROUND: Studies of urban-rural differences in prevalence of non-psychotic mental disorder have not given consistent findings. Such differences have received relatively little study in Great Britain. METHODS: Data from 9777 subjects in the Household Survey of the National Morbidity Survey of Great Britain were analysed for differences between urban, semi-rural and rural areas. Psychiatric morbidity was assessed by scores on the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R), together with alcohol dependence, drug dependence, receipt of treatment from general practitioners. Associations with other characteristics were examined by logistic regression. RESULTS: Urban subjects had higher rates than rural of CIS-R morbidity, alcohol dependence and drug dependence, with semi-rural subjects intermediate. Urban subjects also tended to be members of more deprived social groups, with more adverse living circumstances and greater life stress, factors themselves associated with disorder. Urban-rural differences in alcohol and drug dependence were no longer significant after adjustment for these factors by logistic regression, and differences on CIS-R morbidity were considerably reduced. There were no differences in treatment. CONCLUSIONS: There are considerable British urban rural differences in mental health, which may largely be attributable to more adverse urban social environments.
Authors: James A Hall; Mary S Vaughan Sarrazin; Diane L Huber; Thomas Vaughn; Robert I Block; Amanda R Reedy; Mijin Jang Journal: Res Soc Work Pract Date: 2009-07
Authors: Simon A Hill; Colin Pritchard; Richard Laugharne; David Gunnell Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2005-08-17 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Christopher Dowrick; José Luis Ayuso-Mateos; José Luis Vazquez-Barquero; Graham Dunn; Odd Steffen Dalgard; Ville Lehtinen; Patricia Casey; Clare Wilkinson; Helen Page; Lourdes Lasa; Erin E Michalak; Greg Wilkinson Journal: World Psychiatry Date: 2002-10 Impact factor: 49.548