A study of a population served by a health centre to determine the incidence and prevalence of psychiatric, subnormal and social disorders

Abstract

The National Health Service underwent a management reorganisation on April 1st 1974. With this reorganisation has come the increased focus on the way co-ordination, planning and control can take place at the operational level of the service. Concentrating on the planning aspect of managing health services, there has been a history of data collection concerning the mortality and morbidity of populations. This data has formed the basis of information from which NHS plans have emerged. It is argued, however, that this information is not in the appropriate form for planning health services at operational level. A description of current information systems is made together with an assessment as to their value in the planning process of the NHS. A more detailed discussion follows on methods adopted in highlighting prevalence and incidence rates for certain illnesses within the general population, as it is these which indicate more closely the needs of people in respect of the services they expect to receive from the NHS.A review of the literature concerned with prevalence and incidence rates for psychiatric illness follows. From this review it can be seen that there have been a variety of methods adopted in obtaining prevalence rates. A description of a prevalence study, using the General Health Questionnaire, is made, indicating the reasons for failing to conduct the study, which have implications for planning. Finally, a description and analysis of the Incidence of psychiatric illness, in a defined population is made, with comparisons being made between the prevalence studies previously quoted and national morbidity figures.