Abstract
The article describes the objectives and design of a prospective study of the prevalence, incidence and course of psychiatric disorders in a representative sample of non-institutionalized Dutch adults. A total of 7146 men and women aged 18–64, contacted through a multistage sample of municipalities and households, were interviewed at home in 1996. The primary diagnostic instrument was the CIDI, which determines the lifetime occurrence of DSM-III-R disorders. The disorders included were: mood disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia and other non-affective psychotic disorders, and dependence and abuse of psychoactive substances. Follow-up measurements in the same sample were scheduled at 12 and 36 months. The net response to the first measurement was 69.7%. Poststratification weightings were applied for gender, age, marital status and degree of urbanization. Limitations and advantages of the study design are discussed. Findings are reported elsewhere in this issue.
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Accepted: 18 May 1998
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Bijl, R., van Zessen, G., Ravelli, A. et al. The Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS): objectives and design. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 33, 581–586 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s001270050097
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s001270050097