[Geographic variations in first-admission rates for patients with mental disorders in Denmark 1971-1990]

In the period 1971-1990 the first admission rate to Danish psychiatric hospitals and wards decreased by approximately 45%. This might reflect the similar decrease in number of available psychiatric beds. Generally, the decrease of first admission rates was larger in the metropolitan area than in the rest of the country. Consequently, the disparity in admission rates between town and country was reduced. This is probably due to the decentralization initiated in the mid-seventies when the counties were made responsible for the psychiatric services in Denmark. Furthermore, changes in morbidity could add to the occurrence of regional variations. Number of available beds has gained increasing importance as a predictor of variations between counties and municipalities whereas the importance of distance to hospital and degree of urbanization has declined. As regards sociodemographic variables special importance should be attached to variables for the amount of social aid and the employment rate in the social and health sector. However, it is generally difficult to determine whether regional variations are due to differences in treatment facilities or morbidity differences.