Christchurch Psychiatric Epidemiology Study, Part II: Six Month and other Period Prevalences of Specific Psychiatric Disorders

Abstract

The Christchurch Psychiatric Epidemiology Study determined the occurrence (over 2 weeks, 1 month, 6 months, 12 months and life-time) of a number of specific DWDSM-III psychiatric diagnoses in the Christchurch urban area. Data were collected on 1498 randomly selected adults, aged between 18 and 64 years. The Diagnostic interview Schedule (DIS) was used to collect information to make a DSM-III diagnosis. The six month prevalence rates of disorder are presented and compared with available results from the NlMH Epidemiological Catchment Area Program, Puerto Rico and Edmonton. Other period prevalences for the total sample are also presented. Christchurch is shown to have higher six month prevalence rates for major depression and alcohol abuse/dependence than other sites which have utilised the DIS in community surveys.