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Decline in the Diagnosis of Schizophrenia among First Admissions to Scottish Mental Hospitals from 1969–78

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

John M. Eagles  and
Lawrence J. Whalley
John M. Eagles*
Affiliation:
University of Aberdeen, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Cornhill Road, Aberdeen AB9 2ZH
Lawrence J. Whalley
Affiliation:
MRC Brian Metabolism Unit, Thomas Clouston Clinic, 153 Morningside Drive, Edinburgh EH10 5LG
*
∗Correspondence
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Summary

Annual age-standardised first admission rates from 1969–78 for Scottish mental hospitals were calculated for schizophrenia, paranoid states, reactive psychoses, all affective psychoses, mania, and depressive neuroses. Significant decreases were found in the diagnosis of schizophrenia (P <0.001) and, to a lesser extent, affective psychoses (P <0.01) and depressive neuroses (P <0.02). The incidence of paranoid states, reactive psychoses, and mania did not change significantly.

Several factors possibly contributing to the decline in diagnoses of schizophrenia are discussed, but it is concluded that the figures probably reflect a genuine fall in incidence. The decline in the categories of affective disorder is likely to reflect trends towards increasing provision of community-based care.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 146 , Issue 2 , February 1985 , pp. 151 - 154
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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