Objective: To design an internationally valid and practical instrument on w
hich data can be recorded for small areas that describes the sociodemograph
ic characteristics known to be associated with psychiatric morbidity and se
rvice use.
Method: (1) Identification of a set of sociodemographic characteristics whi
ch, on the basis of currently available evidence, would be expected to infl
uence needs for and provision of mental health care in different countries.
(2) Selection of a subset of these for inclusion in the schedule based on
likely degree of cross-cultural validity and on the types and formats of th
e data routinely available in each country. (3) Revision of the schedule fo
llowing a pilot by EPCAT members.
Results: The European Socio-Demographic Schedule (ESDS) was successfully em
ployed to collect sociodemographic data in seven catchment areas. Differenc
es were found between the areas in terms of availability of data as well as
in the resulting profiles.
Conclusion: The ESDS has been shown to be applicable in a number of Europea
n countries.