Monthly variation in the care-based incidence of psychopathology
| ISSN: |
1433-9285
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| Source: |
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
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| Topics: |
Medicine
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| Notes: |
Abstract Monthly first-contact data from the Groningen Psychiatric Case Register were used to study seasonal variation in the care-based incidence of psychiatric morbidity. Both overall and diagnosis-specific rates for a 15-year period (1976–1990) were examined. Regression analysis of overall rates revealed significant monthly deviations from the linear trend. Inspection of diagnosis-specific rates showed that the monthly number of first contacts varied most in patients with relatively mild psychiatric problems such as neuroses. Seasonal variation is believed to be a consequence of both fluctuations in true psychiatric morbidity and `holiday effects' on supply of services and/or the inclination to ask for help. The relative influence of holiday effects is assumed to be inversely related to psychiatric severity.
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| Type of Medium: |
Electronic Resource
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| URL: |