THE EAST YORK HEALTH NEEDS STUDY .1. PREVALENCE OF DSM-III-R PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDER IN A SAMPLE OF CANADIAN WOMEN

Background. This study reports the prevalence of psychiatric disorder in women from a Canadian community. The GHQ and the CES-D were compare d for their utility. Method. A thousand women over the age of 18 were mailed the GHQ and the CES-D. Our return rate was 44.4%; 24% were pers onally interviewed by interviewers blind to screening information. The CIDI was used to establish DSM-III-R diagnoses. Four versions of the GHQ and one version of the CES-D were calibrated against the CIDI, Res ults. The prevalence of general psychiatric disorder was estimated as between 15% and 19%, anxiety disorders between 10% and 13%, and depres sion occurring with anxiety between 3% and 4%. The calibrated GHQ was the most reliable instrument. Conclusions. Prevalence of DSM-III-R psy chiatric disorder can be reliably determined with the calibrated GHQ. Anxiety disorders are most prevalent in this community, and were best detected using calibrated versions of the longer form GHQ.