Læknablaðið - 15.04.1994, Blaðsíða 41

LÆKNABLAÐIÐ
163
afstöðnu afmælisári að stuðia að því að vemda
og bæta þá möguleika sem hafa verið hér á
landi til faraldsfræðilegra rannsókna, með því
að fá nauðsynlegar breytingar á löggjöf og
framkvæmd hennar.
SUMMARY
Psychiatríc epidemiological research in Iceland
Epidemiological studies of mental disorders in
Iceland have a long tradition. The first study was
carried out 150 years ago.
The results of some of these studies are reviewed
to illustrate the uses of epidemiolgy.
According to the results of the first study in 1839-
1841 mental disorders seemed to be more prevalent
in Iceland than in Denmark. The explanation was
methodological, it was easier to identify cases in
the small population of Iceland. Later studies have
shown that the frequency of mental disorders is
similar to that in other countries. The frequency
of mental disorders have not changed during this
century except for alcoholism, which has increased
during the last 50-60 years.
The prevalence of mental disorders among people
aged 5-60 years is about 20%, but increases
after the age of 70 years due to organic mental
disorders. The incidence of first consultations
with psychiatrists has been just under one per cent
per year. The disease expectancy until the age
of 61 years has been estimated to be 34%, but is
probably higher due to increase in alcoholism and
the fact that mild anxiety disorders have not been
accounted for.
The need for service is far from being met. It
can be estimated that 40-50 thousand Icelanders
suffer from some mental disorder at any time.
Psychiatrists see only about eight thousand patients
each year. Approximately seven thousand patients
receive prescriptions for psychotropic medications,
other than hypnotics, each month. Most of these
medications are prescribed by general practitioners,
which is their main treatment for mental disorders.
About 1,600 persons are treated as inpatients each
year for alcoholism and other drug abuse.
Preventive work could be made more effective by
attending to risk groups which have been defined
through epidemiological work.
It is imperative that the Icelandic Medical
Association defends the freedom of research and
encourages further epidemiolgical research in
all fields of medicine. Such research in Iceland
can contribute to the general knowledge about
prevention and treatment of medical disorders.
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