Many depressed adults not getting treatment: Study

Most American adults who suffer from depression aren't getting treatment, a new study finds.
After screening survey data on more than 46,000 people, researchers found that 8 percent had depression, but only a third were being treated for the mood disorder.
The reasons why were varied.
"Some adults who experience depressive symptoms do not believe they are significant and require medical attention, or that they could benefit from treatment," said lead researcher Dr. Mark Olfson.
For others, stigma or shame interferes with a desire to get professional help, said Olfson, a professor of psychiatry at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University in New York City.
"In still other cases, the medical visits are oriented around more pressing and urgent medical problems, and the clinical opportunities to detect depression are missed," he said.
The survey also found that some patients are overtreated with antidepressants. But, the percentage of people who fall into that category couldn't be determined from the study data, he said.
"Some patients with less prominent, milder forms of depression may request and receive antidepressants, despite evidence that these medications have little or no therapeutic benefit for mild depression," Olfson said.
While some Americans view antidepressants as stigmatizing, others see them as options to enhance personal and social well-being, and "as providing benefits that are well beyond their clinically approved uses," Olfson noted. Also, doctors sometimes keep patients on antidepressants, including those without a history of severe depression, "for years after their depression has resolved," he said. Olfson and his colleagues found that among all surveyed patients treated for depression, 30 percent were depressed, based on the results of screening, and 22 percent were suffering from serious psychological distress.
The most common treatments for depression were antidepressants and psychotherapy. Depressed patients were more likely to be treated by a primary care doctor, while those with serious psychological distress were more likely to be treated by a psychiatrist, the researchers found.
    HealthDay

Many depressed adults not getting treatment: Study

Most American adults who suffer from depression arent getting treatment, a new study finds. After screening survey data on more than 46,000 people, researchers found that 8 percent had depression, but only a third were being treated for the mood disorder. The reasons why were varied. Some adults who experience depressive symptoms do not believe they are significant and require medical attention, or that they could benefit from treatment, said lead researcher Dr. Mark Olfson. For others, stigma or shame interferes with a desire to get professional help, said Olfson, a professor of psychiatry at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University in New York City. In still other cases, the medical visits are oriented around more pressing and urgent medical problems, and the clinical opportunities to detect depression are missed, he said. The survey also found that some patients are overtreated with antidepressants. But, the percentage of people who fall into that category couldnt be determined from the study data, he said. Some patients with less prominent, milder forms of depression may request and receive antidepressants, despite evidence that these medications have little or no therapeutic benefit for mild depression, Olfson said. While some Americans view antidepressants as stigmatizing, others see them as options to enhance personal and social well-being, and as providing benefits that are well beyond their clinically approved uses, Olfson noted. Also, doctors sometimes keep patients on antidepressants, including those without a history of severe depression, for years after their depression has resolved, he said. Olfson and his colleagues found that among all surveyed patients treated for depression, 30 percent were depressed, based on the results of screening, and 22 percent were suffering from serious psychological distress. The most common treatments for depression were antidepressants and psychotherapy. Depressed patients were more likely to be treated by a primary care doctor, while those with serious psychological distress were more likely to be treated by a psychiatrist, the researchers found. HealthDay