Measuring outpatient mental health care in the United States.
A standard definition of outpatient mental health care does not now exist. Data from the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey are used to examine how varying the definition influences utilization estimates. A broad definition of mental health care, which requires purchase of a psychotropic medication or a psychotherapy visit or a visit for a mental health condition, captures nearly seven times as many persons as a definition that requires a visit to a mental health specialist for a mental health condition and either purchase of a psychotropic medication or psychotherapy. Because estimates of mental health service use are highly sensitive to how treatment is defined, caution should be exercised in evaluating mental health utilization data.
Olfson
M
M
College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York City.
Pincus
H A
HA
D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D003710:Demography; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States; D014600:Utilization Review
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs