A leading cause of disability, depression rates are increasing in the U.S. and under-treatment is
widespread, especially among certain groups including men, the poor, the elderly and ethnic minorities, finds a new study in General Hospital Psychiatry.
The study provides “useful data for health care professionals and policy makers” as it may lead to better identification of depressed patients needing care, said lead author Saranrat Wittayanukor, a doctoral student in the department of health outcomes research and policy at Auburn University’s Harrison School of Pharmacy.
The researchers used data from 13,320 U.S. adults over 18. These adults answered a nine-question survey widely used to diagnose depression. In the sample, 24.1 percent were depressed, with 36.6 of the depressed group having moderate-to-severe depression. Overall, 70 percent of depressed people in the study had received no treatment whatsoever.
The study highlighted specific demographic factors associated with having depression, including being obese, poor, female, having certain chronic illnesses, such as arthritis and asthma, and lacking health insurance.
http://www.cfah.org/hbns/2014/men-elderly-minorities-not-getting-treated-for-depression
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