The prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in solvent workers in Britain

Using data originally collected in Britain as part of the study of morbidity in general practice in 1970-71, we have made an estimate of the prevalence of minor psychiatric illness amongst workers exposed to organic solvents. No differences were found between the rates of consultation for mental illness in any solvent exposed group either male or female. Nor was any difference found in the prevalence of mental illness found between workers exposed to solvents and non-exposed referents when we examined data from two smaller studies.