Perceived unmet need for mental health treatment and barriers to care among patients with panic disorder.
OBJECTIVE
This study estimated the extent of perceived unmet need for mental health treatment among individuals with panic disorder in primary care settings, investigated the determinants of unmet need, and assessed barriers to care.


METHODS
Data were from baseline interviews in a clinical trial that investigated primary care treatment of panic disorder. Participants were asked whether there was any time in the past three months when they did not get as much care for emotional or personal problems as they needed or whether they had delays in getting care. Patients who endorsed unmet need were asked about specific perceived barriers. Logistic regression was used to investigate the determinants of unmet need.


RESULTS
Of the 231 patients eligible for the study, 88 (38 percent) endorsed unmet need for emotional or mental health problems. Individuals with worse mental health, those who were more worried about panic, and those without sick pay were significantly more likely to report unmet need. Commonly reported barriers included being unable to find out where to go for help (43 percent), worry about cost (40 percent), lack of coverage by health plan (35 percent), and being unable to get an appointment soon enough (35 percent).


CONCLUSIONS
The relatively low level of patient-reported unmet need for mental health treatment among primary care patients with panic disorder suggests that efforts to improve treatment of panic disorder should include patient education about mental illness and the effective treatments available. Although discussion of barriers to care has traditionally centered on stigma and economic factors, the results of this study suggest that simple logistic factors, such as not knowing whom to call for help, are also important barriers.
Craske
Michelle G
MG
University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1563, USA. craske@psych.ucla.edu
Edlund
Mark J
MJ
Sullivan
Greer
G
Roy-Byrne
Peter
P
Sherbourne
Cathy
C
Bystritsky
Alexander
A
Stein
Murray B
MB
D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D014505:Urban Population; D014861:Washington