The ecology of mental health care in Taiwan.
This paper applied the ecology model of general medical care by White et al. to analysis of mental health services utilization within the National Health Insurance in Taiwan. The ambulatory and inpatient claims of a 200,000-person cohort in 2001 were analyzed. The yearly and monthly prevalence estimates included psychotropic drug prescription, diagnosis of mental disorders, psychiatric ambulatory visit and admission, community psychiatric rehabilitation, and certificate of chronic psychosis. The results revealed one-fourth of people had received psychotropic drugs during the year, mostly from non-psychiatrists. Besides, the elderly might be excessively exposed to psychotropic drugs, and community rehabilitation programs were underutilized.
Chou
Li-Fang
LF
Department of Public Finance, National Chengchi University, 64, Sec. 2, Chih-Nan Road, Taipei, 11623, Taiwan. lifang@nccu.edu.tw
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007344:Insurance Claim Reporting; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D013624:Taiwan