The Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS): objectives and design

The article describes the objectives and design of a prospective study of t he prevalence, incidence and course of psychiatric disorders in a represent ative sample of non-institutionalized Dutch adults. A total of 7146 men and women aged 18-64, contacted through a multistage sample of municipalities and households, were interviewed at home in 1996. The primary diagnostic in strument was the CIDI, which determines the lifetime occurrence of DSM-III- R disorders. The disorders included were: mood disorders, anxiety disorders , eating disorders, schizophrenia and other non-affective psychotic disorde rs; and dependence and abuse of psychoactive substances. Follow-up measurem ents in the same sample were scheduled at 12 and 36 months. The net respons e to the first measurement was 69.7%. Poststratification weightings were ap plied for gender, age, marital status and degree of urbanization. Limitatio ns and advantages of the study design are discussed. Findings are reported elsewhere in this issue.