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The East York Health Needs Study

I: Prevalence of DSM–III–R Psychiatric Disorder in a Sample of Canadian Women

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

R. Katz*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, and the Department of Psychology of the Toronto Hospital, Canada
B. F. Shaw
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
F. Newman
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, The Toronto Hospital, Canada
M. Rosenbluth
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Toronto East General and Orthopaedic Hospital, Toronto, Canada
*
Professor R. Katz, Department of Psychology, The Toronto Hospital, 200 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 2C4

Abstract

Background

This study reports the prevalence of psychiatric disorder in women from a Canadian community. The GHQ and the CES–D were compared for their utility.

Method

A thousand women over the age of 18 were mailed the GHQ and the CES–D. Our return rate was 44.4%; 24% were personally interviewed by interviewers blind to screening information. The CIDI was used to establish DSM–III–R diagnoses. Four versions of the GHQ and one version of the CES–D were calibrated against the CIDI.

Results

The prevalence of general psychiatric disorder was estimated as between 15% and 19%, anxiety disorders between 10% and 13%, and depression occurring with anxiety between 3% and 4%. The calibrated GHQ was the most reliable instrument.

Conclusions

Prevalence of DSM–III–R psychiatric disorder can be reliably determined with the calibrated GHQ. Anxiety disorders are most prevalent in this community, and were best detected using calibrated versions of the longer form GHQ.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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