title: Racial differences in antidepressant use among older home health care patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine the association of race (black and white) with depression diagnosis and antidepressant use among older home health care patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional data were obtained from the 2007 National Home and Hospice Care Survey of patients 65 years and older (N=3,157). Data were analyzed by race, antidepressant use, and charted depression diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whites had greater odds than blacks of receiving a depression diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=4.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.52-13.09). Whites with no depression diagnosis were also more likely to receive an antidepressant (AOR=2.62, CI=1.58-4.36); however, the difference in receipt of an antidepressant between whites and blacks with a depression diagnosis was not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older blacks were less likely than older whites to receive antidepressants, independent of a depression diagnosis. This finding suggests that older blacks with depression in home health care may face two disparities relative to whites: underdiagnosis and undertreatment of depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, 21 Bloomingdale Rd,White Plains, NY 10605, USA. yop2003@med.cornell.edu
authors.forename: Yolonda Renee
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Pickett
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weissman
authors.forename: Martha L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bruce
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000208:ethnology; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents