Cross-National Study of Diagnosis of the Mental Disorders: Some Results from the First Comparative Investigation
JOHN E. COOPER M.R.C.P., D.P.M.1,
ROBERT E. KENDELL M.D., M.R.C.P., D.P.M.1,
BARRY J. GURLAND M.R.C.P., D.P.M.2,
NORMAN SARTORIUS M.D.3, , and
TIBOR FARKAS M.D.2
1 Institute of Psychiatry (University of London), Dc Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, S.E. 5, England, and the Royal Bethlem and Maudsley Hospitals
2 Biometrics Research, New York State Department of Mental Hygiene, and the department of psychiatry, Columbia University
3 Holder of a British Council fellowship, medical officer with the World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
Consecutive admissions to a U. S. state hospital and to an English area mental hospital were compared to investigate the source of observed differences between the two countries in the frequencies of diagnoses given to hospitalized patients. Although independently assigned project diagnoses for the two series resembled one another in frequency more so than did the two sets of official hospital diagnoses, indicating national differences in the use of diagnostic terms, the authors conclude that there were genuine clinical differences between the patient populations as well.
