title: Utilization of traditional Chinese medicine in patients treated for depression: a population-based study in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to treat depression-like symptoms in Taiwan. We aim to examine factors associated with utilization of TCM in patients with depression and to test whether the use of TCM would impact the use of psychiatric services with a subsequent impact on healthcare costs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult patients (n = 216,557) who received antidepressant treatment for depression in 2003 was identified in the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. A Two-Part model was conducted. A multivariate logistic regression was employed to explore factors associated with the use of TCM, with a particular focus on baseline comorbidities, painful physical symptoms (PPS), and frequency of psychiatric service contacts over the ensuing 12-month study period. Multivariate generalized linear modeling was then applied to examine factors associated with healthcare costs for TCM users.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than 40% of individuals prescribed with antidepressant treatments for depression used TCM services. Younger age, female gender, the presence of certain comorbid mental/physical illnesses or PPS, as well as having fewer psychiatric service contacts were found to be associated with the use of TCM services. These factors also affected TCM costs for users; the TCM costs equaled to 30% of costs of psychiatric out-patient services for TCM users.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study suggested a set of significant factors which could influence use and cost of TCM services for patients with depression. Utilization of TCM services could have a substantial impact on use of psychiatric services and healthcare costs for patients with depression.
authors: Centre for the Economics of Mental and Physical Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London, United Kingdom. panyiju0211@gmail.com
authors: Yi-Ju
authors: YJ
authors: Pan
authors: I-Chih
authors: IC
authors: Cheng
authors: Ling-Ling
authors: LL
authors: Yeh
authors: Yu-Min
authors: YM
authors: Cho
authors: Jung
authors: J
authors: Feng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000191:economics; D012737:Sex Factors; D013624:Taiwan