INCIDENCE OF MENTAL-DISORDERS IN THE FINNISH UKKI STUDY

Background. The aim was to give estimates of the incidence of differen t mental disorders from a Finnish prospective epidemiological follow-u p study, the UKKI Study. Method, The original probability sample consi sted of 1000 persons, aged 15-64 years. The baseline survey took place in 1969-71, and follow-up surveys were conducted 5 and 16 years after the baseline survey. The research methods included a personal psychia tric interview and data collection from different registers. The diagn ostic system was based on the ICD-8 classification. Results. The estim ated annual incidence of all mental disorders was close to 15 per 1000 both between baseline and the 5-year follow-up as well as between the 5-year and the 16-year follow-up. During the entire 16-year follow-up period the annual incidence of ail disorders was 14 per 1000 in men a nd 17 per 1000 in women. The annual incidence of neurotic disorders wa s 10 per 1000 in men and 14 per 1000 in women, and that of psychotic d isorders 2 per 1000. Conclusions. In the literature, there are huge di fferences in the results concerning incidence of mental disorders. The results of the present study were rather close to those of the Swedis h Lundby Study, but nowhere near the results of the American ECA Study .