Some influences on the intercounty variation in Irish psychiatric hospitalization rates

An examination of the effect of sex and age structure on psychiatric hospitalization rate and its regional variations in Ireland has been carried out. Statistical testing, by regression, of the influence of selected socioeconomic variables on hospitalization rate produced some interesting results. Of most interest was the finding that elderly populations tended to increase hospitalization rate at all age groups. It is hoped to carry this work further using more refined data.