Narrowing the gap in treatment of depression.
OBJECTIVE
Although effective treatments for depression exist, under or non-treatment of depression is common. Efforts were made in the early 1990s to improve recognition and treatment of depression, with many of those efforts targeted at groups most vulnerable to under-treatment. The purpose of this study is to assess treatment rates in 1993-1994 and 1996-1997.


METHODS
Using nationally representative surveys of office-based practice covering the years 1993, 1994, 1996, and 1997, we obtained estimates of visits by adults in which depression was diagnosed and a prescription for antidepressant medication and/or psychotherapy was provided or ordered.


RESULTS
The proportion of physician office visits in which a depression diagnosis was recorded did not change from 1993-1994 (3.48 percent) to 1996-1997 (3.40 percent). However, the rate of antidepressant prescription or psychotherapy rose from 74.2 percent of visits with a depression diagnosis in 1993-1994 to 82.3 percent of these visits in 1996-1997. Significantly lower rates of treatment for depression during office visits made by African American patients, elderly patients, and patients on Medicaid occurred in 1993-1994, but were not evident in 1996-1997, reflecting improved rates of depression treatment in these populations.


CONCLUSIONS
Although rates of diagnosis of depression during office visits have not increased, treatment rates for depression are improving among those who are diagnosed, including groups of people who historically were less likely to be offered treatment. Additional efforts to improve recognition and diagnosis of depression in ambulatory medical practice and to improve dissemination of treatment are needed.
Harman
J S
JS
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, USA. harmanjs@msx.upmc.edu
Mulsant
B H
BH
Kelleher
K J
KJ
Schulberg
H C
HC
Kupfer
D J
DJ
Reynolds
C F
CF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents