Predictors of adequate depression treatment among Medicaid-enrolled adults.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether Medicaid-enrolled depressed adults receive adequate treatment for depression and to identify the characteristics of those receiving inadequate treatment.


METHODS
Claims data from a Medicaid-enrolled population in a large mid-Atlantic state between July 2006 and January 2008.


METHODS
We examined rates and predictors of minimally adequate psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy among adults with a new depression treatment episode during the study period (N=1,098).


RESULTS
Many depressed adults received either minimally adequate psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy. Black individuals and individuals who began their depression treatment episode with an inpatient psychiatric stay for depression were markedly less likely to receive minimally adequate psychotherapy and more likely to receive inadequate treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Racial minorities and individuals discharged from inpatient treatment for depression are at risk for receiving inadequate depression treatment.
Teh
Carrie Farmer
CF
RAND Corporation, 4570 Fifth Avenue, Suite 600, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. cteh@rand.org
Sorbero
Mark J
MJ
Mihalyo
Mark J
MJ
Kogan
Jane N
JN
Schuster
James
J
Reynolds
Charles F
CF
Stein
Bradley D
BD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019992:Databases as Topic; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004358:Drug Therapy; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid; D008875:Middle Aged; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult