SOCIAL-INDICATORS AND THE PREDICTION OF PSYCHIATRIC INPATIENT SERVICEUTILIZATION

The relationship between social variables and psychiatric service use in Victoria was investigated using a social indicators approach. Indic ators were developed separately for the urban and rural areas of the s tate using 1986 census data. Principal components analysis was employe d to reduce the data. Simple, unit weight indicators were developed an d explained a considerable proportion of the variation in the rate of persons admitted to psychiatric facilities, the rate of admission epis odes and the rate of occupied bed days for urban areas; a moderate amo unt of variation for these measures was accounted for by indicators de veloped for rural areas. The findings were considered in relation to b oth methodological issues and the role of other factors (e.g., accessi bility and availability of psychiatric services) which may contribute to service use.