The National Survey of Psychiatric Morbidity in Great Britain

Abstract

A national survey of psychiatric morbidity was carried out to estimate the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among adults aged 16–64 in Great Britain, the nature and extent of associated social disability, the nature and extent of comorbidity, use of services, and to investigate recent precipitating factors of illness and their association with different lifestyles. Ten thousand adults living in private households were asked the revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R). Attempts were also made to estimate the prevalence of psychosis, drug, and alcohol dependence. The sample was designed to be nationally representative and interviewing procedures aimed at maximising response and producing high quality data.