Secular trends in first-ever admission rates of affective disorders in Denmark, 1971–93

Epidemiologic studies suggest that the population is becoming increasingly prone to affective disorders. The aim of the present study was to analyse secular trends in Danish first-ever admission rates for affective disorders for 1971–93. The analyses were based on data from the national Danish Psychiatric Case Register. The rates for manic-depressive psychosis decreased by 52%, for depressive and excitative reactive psychosis by 72%. and for depressive neurosis by 95%. Concomitantly, there was a 56% reduction in the number of psychiatric beds. In view of the aforementioned studies suggesting that affective disorders are becoming more common in the population, the present report points to the possibility that an increasing number of patients may never be treated.