How depression influences the receipt of primary care services among women: a propensity score analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Many patients with psychiatric disorders do not receive appropriate medical services, whereas others receive unnecessary medical services. This study investigated whether female primary care patients with depression were more or less likely to receive preventive/diagnostic tests.


METHODS
Preventive/diagnostic tests for females with depression or hypertension or both over a 5-year period were extracted from an electronic medical record (EMR) used at a university-based family practice clinic. Tests extracted included cholesterol screening, mammogram, Pap smear, and colonoscopy.


RESULTS
Of 860 included in the analysis, 270 were diagnosed with depression, 380 with hypertension, and 210 with both conditions. Women with depression were significantly more likely to receive colonoscopies and Pap smears than women with hypertension. Hypertensive patients were significantly more likely to have their cholesterol checked.


CONCLUSIONS
Somatization associated with depression may lead to more preventive and diagnostic testing among female primary care patients.
Stecker
Tracy
T
VA Health Services Research and Development (HRS&D), Center for Mental Health and Outcomes Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72114, USA. steckertracy@uams.edu
Fortney
John C
JC
Prajapati
Sarita
S
D000328:Adult; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016387:Women's Health; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*