Prevalence of psychotic disorders treated by the healthcare system in 2014

A 30% higher prevalence among men, across all age groups

Approximately 470,000 people with psychotic disorders were treated in 2014 by the French healthcare system, representing an annual prevalence of 7.4 per 1,000 inhabitants. Across all age groups, the prevalence is 30% higher among men (8.3 per 1,000 vs. 6.4 per 1,000 among women). These are primarily young or middle-aged individuals: 79% of men and 66% of women are aged 25 to 64 (in the general population, this age group represents approximately 50% of the total population).

• Among men, prevalence increases steadily with age, peaking at around 14 per 1,000 between the ages of 35 and 49, and then declines steadily.

• Among women, prevalence increases steadily with age, stabilizing in their 50s at a rate of around 10 per 1,000.

• Around age 60, the curves cross, and female rates exceed male rates.

Among the individuals identified by the algorithm, 72% receive coverage under ALD 23 “Long-term psychiatric conditions.”

It seemed worthwhile to distinguish between CMUC beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries. We note that the prevalence of people with psychotic disorders is higher among CMUC beneficiaries (10.9 per 1,000 vs. 6.7 per 1,000 among non-beneficiaries, after adjusting for age).

Regional disparities

The regions of Brittany (9.1 per 1,000) and Provence–Alpes–Côte d’Azur (8.8 per 1,000) have the highest prevalences, while Hauts-de-France has the lowest (6.2 per 1,000), while Île-de-France falls at an intermediate level (7.5 per 1,000). Prevalence rates in the overseas departments and regions are all below the national rate.

Prevalence of schizophrenia treated within the healthcare system in 2014

Half of patients with psychotic disorders have a diagnosis of schizophrenia

Approximately 237,800 people with schizophrenia—or 3.7 per 1,000 residents—were treated by the healthcare system in 2014, corresponding to an estimated annual prevalence of around 4 per 1,000. Thus, about half of patients with psychotic disorders have a specific diagnosis of schizophrenia. The male-to-female prevalence ratio, across all ages, is 1.8, higher than that observed for psychotic disorders as a whole. As with the latter, the population with schizophrenia treated by the healthcare system is relatively young: 85% of men and 78% of women are aged 25 to 64.

• Among men, prevalence increases steadily with age, peaking at around 9–10 per 1,000 between the ages of 30 and 49, and then declines steadily.

• Among women, prevalence increases steadily with age, peaking at around 5 per 1,000 in their 50s and then declining steadily.

• From age 65 onward, the curves are superimposable for both sexes.

Among the individuals identified by the algorithm, 65% receive coverage under ALD 23, “Long-term psychiatric conditions.”

As with psychotic disorders as a whole, the prevalence of schizophrenia is higher among CMUC beneficiaries (5.8 per 1,000 vs. 3.9 per 1,000 among non-beneficiaries, after adjusting for age).

Regional disparities

The Provence–Alpes–Côte d’Azur (4.9 per 1,000) and Brittany (4.5 per 1,000) regions have the highest prevalence rates, while Hauts-de-France has the lowest (3.0 per 1,000). In the overseas departments and regions, French Guiana and Réunion have prevalence rates significantly lower than the national average, while Guadeloupe and Martinique have prevalence rates that are either equivalent to or slightly higher than the national average.