Schizophrenia in Greenland: a follow-up study

A total of 289 Greenlanders admitted for the first time to a mental hospital from 1980 to 1983, were followed for 7 years. Thirty-seven patients, 24 men and 13 women, were diagnosed with schizophrenia at least once during the follow-up period. The annual first admission rate per 100,000 was 41 for men and 23 for women. The schizophrenics were compared with a group of non-schizophrenics at the same age admitted in the same period. The main results were young age at first admittance, high male-female ratio and poor clinical and social outcome. The results were compared with WHO's cross-cultural studies. Young age and a high male-female ratio are in accordance with the developing countries, whereas poor outcome is in accordance with the industrialized countries.