The Nordic Comparative Study on Sectorized Psychiatry. III. Accessibility of psychiatric services, degree of urbanization and treated incidence.

As part of a Nordic Comparative Study on Sectorized Psychiatry, accessibility of psychiatric services and degree of urbanization in seven catchment areas were related to treated incidence. One-year treated incidence cohorts were used. Accessibility was assessed according to referral practice, existence of a round the clock emergency service and geographical location of the services. Accessibility was surprisingly weakly associated with treated incidence. Easy access to the psychiatric services was not related to a high treated incidence of less severe psychiatric problems at the expense of patients suffering from severe illness. Geographical distance to the services did not predict the demand for services. A positive correlation was found between the degree of urbanization and treated incidence of psychoses but not of other diagnostic groups.