This study relates inpatient-treated prevalence of the three mental
illnesses most often requiring inpatient treatment--schizophrenia,
alcoholism, and affective disorders--to social class in a suburban area.
Rates were developed for the total population, including those living in
domiciliary care, for those living in households only, and for
first-admission patients living in households. Log-linear models supported
the finding that low socioeconomic status was related to a high prevalence
of alcoholism and affective disorders. In contrast, socioeconomic status
was not related to the prevalence of schizophrenia among those living in
households or among first-admission patients living in households.Abstract Teaser