The spectrum of psychiatric morbidity in a defined geographical area

D. P. Goldberg and P. Huxley (1980) provide a scheme of 5 levels and 4 filters to investigate referral processes in places where health services are organized similarly to the British National Health Service. To avoid limitations on service planning due to heterogeneous sources of research data, estimates of psychiatric morbidity from one geographical area (South Verona, Italy) are presented that relate to all 5 levels and occur within the same time frame (1 wk in 1987). Assessment of morbidity in the primary medical care setting (levels 2 and 3) and data about filters 2 and 3 provide useful information for evaluating specialist services (levels 4 and 5) and for understanding changes in the provision of specialist care. (PsycLIT Database Copyright 1990 American Psychological Assn, all rights reserved