title: Treatment disparities for major depressive disorder: Implications for pharmacists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether differences exist in overall antidepressant use and specific antidepressant drug class (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor [SSRI]/ serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor [SNRI] versus other) use among patients of different race/ethnicity groups (blacks and Hispanics compared with whites) with a diagnosis of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) 12-month major depressive disorder (MDD) and to discuss ways in which pharmacists can decrease the gap in treatment disparities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  United States from February 2001 through April 2003.
  
  
  METHODS
  Respondents of the National Comorbidity Survey-Replication with DSM-IV 12-month MDD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Previous 12-month overall antidepressant use and previous 12-month specific antidepressant drug class (SSRI/SNRI versus other) use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For respondents who screened positive for 12-month MDD (n = 362.3), only 34% reported antidepressant use in the previous 12-month period. Blacks (17.5%) and Hispanics (21.8%) reported significantly (P < 0.0001) lower overall use of antidepressants in the unadjusted analysis compared with whites (37.6%). Although not statistically significant, odds ratios (ORs) indicated that blacks and Hispanics were 61% and 47% less likely to report use of antidepressants (OR = 0.39 [95% CI 0.20-0.77], P = 0.10, and 0.53 [0.31-0.91], P = 0.61, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among respondents with a diagnosis of MDD, race/ethnicity plays an important role in the use of antidepressants. The results of this study indicate a need for pharmacists to proactively interact and manage their patients' antidepressant therapy.
authors: College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, USA.
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Fleming
authors: Jamie C
authors: JC
authors: Barner
authors: Carolyn M
authors: CM
authors: Brown
authors: Tawny
authors: T
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024382:Professional Role; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents