Psychiatric morbidity in two matched community samples: a comparison of rates and risks in Edinburgh and St. Louis

The use of different diagnostic classifications of psychiatric disorder in the United States and the United Kingdom, together with associated changes in the operational definitions of disorder, has placed additional barriers in the way of U.S./U.K. comparative studies. However, the parallel development of two general population studies, one in Edinburgh and one in St. Louis, MO, has enabled a comparative analysis with limited objectives, to be undertaken. This paper presents results based upon matched samples of women from these studies. The findings revealed current overall prevalence, and the socio-demographic determinants of prevalence, to be similar in the two city samples. The results additionally indicate the consequence of applying diagnostic criteria appropriate to different ranges of psychiatric syndromes for the estimation of prevalence in general population samples.