The Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register.

INTRODUCTION: The Psychiatric Central Research Register (PCRR) has continued since 1970 with electronic registration of patients treated at psychiatric departments in Denmark. CONTENT: The register contains dates of onset and end of any treatment; all diagnoses; type of referral; place of treatment; municipality of residence; mode of admission. VALIDITY AND COVERAGE: Systematic studies validating the clinical diagnoses do not exist. However, several studies have validated specific diagnoses. The nationwide registration of severe mental disorders is almost complete. However, most cases with mild to moderate mental disorders are diagnosed and treated by general practitioners or specialists in psychiatry working in private practice and are thus not registered in the PCRR.
CONCLUSION: The PCRR is a valuable tool in national health planning and in epidemiological research.