Psychiatric epidemiology in Israel: an analysis of community studies

A review is presented of all psychiatric surveys conducted thus far in Israel. A brief description of these five epidemiological studies is followed by an analysis which focuses on the objectives of the studies, their respective methodology and data sources. The results obtained in these studies are discussed according to several parameters, i.e., the range of prevalence rates found, the differential distribution of rates among social groups and the relationship found between psychopathology and several variables such as age, country of origin, social class and area of residence. Suggestions for further epidemiological research are included.