Relationship between country of birth and psychiatric admissions in Western Australia

The rates of admissions in 1976-78 to all hospitals in Western Australia, both psychiatric and non-psychiatric, of patients with a primary psychiatric diagnosis were analysed specifically for country of birth and whether they lived in Perth or in country areas. Eastern European migrants had the highest hospitalization rates, and Southern European migrants the lowest. Rates for schizophrenia were high in the Eastern Europeans, and for alcoholism low in Southern European and Asian females and high in Northern European males. The United Kingdom migrants were most like the Australian born in regards to admission rates, diagnostic composition, and in the distribution of hospitalization patterns between psychiatrists and non-psychiatrists. Women, especially Southern European, in the country areas are at special risk to be admitted for neurosis/personality disorder.