THE TREATED PREVALENCE OF MENTAL DISORDER AMONGST IMMIGRANTS AND THE AUSTRALIAN-BORN - COMMUNITY AND PRIMARY-CARE RATES

The objective of the study was to explore the relationship between bir thplace and the treated prevalence of mental disorder in Australia. Tr eated prevalence rates were derived from two surveys. These were the 1 989-1990 National Health Survey, carried out by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and the general practice component of a one-day mental health census carried out in the state of Victoria by the authors in 1 993. Differences due to the age and sex composition of birthplace grou ps were controlled statistically. Treated rates of mental disorder, an d the use of psychotropic medication, were consistently high amongst t hose born in Greece, and low amongst those born in the U.K./lreland or in South East Asia, compared to the Australian-born. Country of birth has a significant effect on the treated prevalence of mental disorder , as reported by patients or their doctor. Further research is needed to reveal the underlying causes of these differences.