Ecological structure and incidence rates of schizophrenia in Nagasaki City

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between incidence rates of schizophrenia and residential features in Nagasaki City, Japan. Social features of residents in 259 areas in the Nagasaki City ecological structure were determined using the results of the 1980 national census. Six residential factors--employment status, occupational and academic career, household status, length of residence, housing tenure and young male predominance--were selected as factors that clearly reflect residential differentiation of residents. Contrary to the findings of many other studies conducted in Western cities, no statistically significant differences were observed, although it seemed that incidence rates were comparatively higher in the lower social classes. These results possibly reflect differences in cultural and social values and structures.