Changes in the incidence of mental disorders in Finnish cohorts and the effects of being a participant of the Northern Finland Birth Cohorts
Thesis event information
Date and time of the thesis defence
Topic of the dissertation
Changes in the incidence of mental disorders in Finnish cohorts and the effects of being a participant of the Northern Finland Birth Cohorts
Doctoral candidate
Master of Science, Statistics Martta Kerkelä
Faculty and unit
University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Medicine, Research Unit of Clinical Medicine
Subject of study
Medicine
Opponent
Professor Anssi Auvinen, Tampere University
Custos
Professor Juha Veijola, University of Oulu
Changes in the incidence of mental disorders in Finnish cohorts and the effects of being a participant of the Northern Finland Birth Cohorts
Birth cohort studies are longitudinal studies in which a research population is followed from birth throughout their lives, collecting data on various factors over time. Data can be gathered through clinical studies, surveys, and interviews, enabling the investigation of multiple risk factors and their potential interactions. The long-term follow-up of birth cohorts raises the question of whether the follow-up can affect the research population in any way.
This doctoral thesis focuses on the association between participation in long-term follow-up studies and the use of psychiatric healthcare services, as well as cardiometabolic disorders in two birth cohort studies: the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC1966) and the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 (NFBC1986). Additionally, the thesis examines changes in the prevalence of psychiatric disorders treated in hospitals in five large Finnish birth cohorts whose participants were born between 1966 and 1997.
The results show some inconsistent effects of participation in the NFBC1966 and NFBC1986 cohorts. Female participants in NFBC1966 had an earlier age of onset of cardiometabolic diseases, male participants in NFBC1986 had a reduced risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases, and female participants in NFBC1986 used psychiatric healthcare services less than the comparison cohort. Furthermore, the prevalence of hospital-treated psychiatric disorders increased in the past few decades in five Finnish birth cohorts, which is somewhat inconsistent with Finnish psychiatric healthcare policy.
The research findings indicate that participation in longitudinal studies can have positive health effects. Participation in longitudinal studies can lead to increased health awareness, improved self-care behaviours, and heightened motivation to make positive lifestyle changes. The results suggest that even occasional health check-ups as part of long-term follow-up can yield positive health effects, and promoting healthier lifestyles may not necessarily require intensive or frequent interventions.
This doctoral thesis focuses on the association between participation in long-term follow-up studies and the use of psychiatric healthcare services, as well as cardiometabolic disorders in two birth cohort studies: the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC1966) and the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 (NFBC1986). Additionally, the thesis examines changes in the prevalence of psychiatric disorders treated in hospitals in five large Finnish birth cohorts whose participants were born between 1966 and 1997.
The results show some inconsistent effects of participation in the NFBC1966 and NFBC1986 cohorts. Female participants in NFBC1966 had an earlier age of onset of cardiometabolic diseases, male participants in NFBC1986 had a reduced risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases, and female participants in NFBC1986 used psychiatric healthcare services less than the comparison cohort. Furthermore, the prevalence of hospital-treated psychiatric disorders increased in the past few decades in five Finnish birth cohorts, which is somewhat inconsistent with Finnish psychiatric healthcare policy.
The research findings indicate that participation in longitudinal studies can have positive health effects. Participation in longitudinal studies can lead to increased health awareness, improved self-care behaviours, and heightened motivation to make positive lifestyle changes. The results suggest that even occasional health check-ups as part of long-term follow-up can yield positive health effects, and promoting healthier lifestyles may not necessarily require intensive or frequent interventions.
Last updated: 23.1.2024