title: Measuring outpatient mental health care in the United States.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York City.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olfson
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Pincus
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs