Regional differences in disability pensioning on the basis of psychiatric disorders in Norway

• Objective: The incidence of disability pensions granted on the basis of a psychiatric diagnosis presents unexplained regional differences in Norway. The aim of this study was to analyse whether these differences were because of sex and age. Method: In this register-based study we compared in six Norwegian regions the incidence rates of disability pensions granted on the basis of a psychiatric diagnosis between 1988 and 2000. The population at risk comprised all individuals aged 16– 64 years in 1988 (n = 2 571 108) 1990 (n = 2 574 355), 1995 (n = 2 629 038) and 2000 (n = 2 668 827). Individuals already drawing a disability pension were excluded. Cases were those who drew a full- or part-time disability pension on the basis of a psychiatric diagnosis each year. Norway was used as the reference. Results: There were large regional differences, with one region presenting significantly increased SMR during the entire period. Among men the SMR was 1.28 (1.00–1.62 95% CI) in 1988 and 1.41 (1.14–1.71 95% CI) in 2000. Corresponding figures for women were 1.40 (1.14–1.74 95% CI) and 1.37 (1.13–1.67 95% CI). The most accentuated sex differences were found in the urban area Oslo. SMR among men was 1.17 (1.04–1.29 95% CI) in 1988 and 1.50 (1.38–1.63 95% CI) in 2000, while women presented a decreased risk in 1988, 0.87 (0.77–0.97 95% CI) and 1.16 (1.06–1.26 95% CI) in the year 2000. Conclusion: Increased risks remained after controlling for age and sex. Sex differences also varied between regions. Selection mechanisms and unemployment could be possible explanations,as could varying accessibility to the psychiatric health care system.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Regional difference

Norway

psychiatric disoreders

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)