SELECTED ASPECTS OF THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF PSYCHOSES IN CROATIA, YUGOSLAVIA

• Published in: American journal of epidemiology 1971-08, Vol.94 (2), p.112-117
• Main Authors: LEMKAU, PAUL V., KULČAR, ŽIVKO, CROCETTI, GUIDO M., KESIĆ, BRANKO
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: epidemiology; hospitalization; interview; mental disorders; psychological; psychoses; schizophrenia
• ISSN: 0002-9262; 1476-6256
• DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a121302

Lemkau, P. V. (Johns Hopkins Univ. School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Md. 21205), Ž. Kulčar, G. M. Crocetti and B. Kesić. Selected aspects of the epidemiology of psychoses in Croatia, Yugoslavia. I. Background and use of psychiatric hospital statistics. Amer J Epidem 94: 112–117, 1971.—This paper is the first of three describing the methods and results of a study of the prevalence of psychotic illnesses in Croatia, one of the six republics of the Yugoslav Federation. The research began as a test of a widespread belief that the Istrian peninsula and immediately adjacent areas had high prevalence rates for schizophrenia. Analysis of routine reports of psychiatric hospital and psychiatric ward discharges and a special census of patients in such hospitals showed that the prevalence of hospitalized psychosis of all types was significantly higher in the study area than in the rest of Croatia. Schizophrenia was more prevalent in the study area also, but the finding was not specific for that syndrome. In the course of these researches a register of hospitalized psychotic patients was set up and continues to operate in Croatia. Its results confirm the differences in rates of psychoses for the two areas. With differences in hospitalization rates for psychoses established, the question arose as to what extent hospitalization represented the total prevalence of psychosis and whether differences in practices of case management might not account for the differences in prevalence observed. Household interviewing was the method chosen to pursue these questions and medical students were trained as interviewers.