A recent AHRQ-funded analysis revealed that most adults who were screened positive for depression do not receive treatment, while most patients receiving treatment for depression have not screened positive for the disease. The study, published in
JAMA Internal Medicine, analyzed 2012 and 2013 data from AHRQ’s Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. It found that approximately 8.4 percent of adults screened positive for depression, of whom 28.7 percent received treatment. Conversely, among all adults treated for depression, 29.9 percent had depression and 21.8 percent had serious psychological distress. The authors called for stronger efforts to align depression care with each patient’s clinical needs. Access the
abstract.
JAMA Intern Med. 2016 Oct 1;176(10):1482-1491. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.5057.
Treatment of Adult Depression in the United States.
Abstract
IMPORTANCE:
Despite recent increased use of antidepressants in the United States, concerns persist that many adults with depression do not receive treatment, whereas others receive treatments that do not match their level of illness severity.
OBJECTIVE:
To characterize the treatment of adult depression in the United States.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS:
Analysis of screen-positive depression, psychological distress, and depression treatment data from 46 417 responses to the Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys taken in US households by participants aged 18 years or older in 2012 and 2013.
MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES:
Percentages of adults with screen-positive depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-2 score of ≥ 3) and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of the effects of sociodemographic characteristics on odds of screen-positive depression; percentages with treatment for screen-positive depression and AORs; percentages with any treatment of depression and AORs stratified by presence of serious psychological distress (Kessler 6 scale score of ≥13); and percentages with depression treatment by health care professional group (psychiatrists, other health care professionals, and general medical providers); and type of depression treatment (antidepressants, psychotherapy, and both) all stratified by distress level.
RESULTS:
Approximately 8.4% (95% CI, 7.9-8.8) of adults screened positive for depression, of which 28.7% received any depression treatment. Conversely, among all adults treated for depression, 29.9% had screen-positive depression and 21.8% had serious psychological distress. Adults with serious compared with less serious psychological distress who were treated for depression were more likely to receive care from psychiatrists (33.4% vs 17.3%, P < .001) or other mental health specialists (16.2% vs 9.6%, P < .001), and less likely to receive depression care exclusively from general medical professionals (59.0% vs 74.4%, P < .001). They were also more likely to receive psychotherapy (32.5% vs 20.6%, P < .001), though not antidepressant medications (81.1% vs 88.6%, P < .001).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE:
Most US adults who screen positive for depression did not receive treatment for depression, whereas most who were treated did not screen positive. In light of these findings, it is important to strengthen efforts to align depression care with each patient's clinical needs.
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