Demographic differences in medication use among individuals with self-reported major depression.
In a nationally representative household-based sample, more than one-third of those who identified themselves as having major depression reported not taking any medications in the last year. Male gender, minority status, excellent health, and being at either end of the age continuum were associated with nonuse of medication. Lower-income, widowed, and never-married individuals showed a trend toward being less likely to use medication. The results suggest the need to further assess the role of potential factors in the limited use of medication among various demographic subgroups of individuals who identify themselves as being depressed.
Department of Psychology at Loyola College in Maryland, Baltimore 21210, USA. greenhennessy@loyola.edu
S
S
Green-Hennessy
K D
KD
Hennessy
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012803:Sick Role; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs