PMS7 Depression Treatment Patterns among Individuals with Arthritis

Abstract

To examine the patterns of depression treatment among individuals with arthritis and depression by demographic, socioeconomic, access to care, health status and lifestyle risk factors. We used a cross-sectional design. Our data source was the 2008 annual release of Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (MEPS). Individuals with self-reported arthritis were identified from medical conditions and household files. Presence of depression was captured from medical conditions file. The study sample consisted of 947 adults with arthritis and depression. Unadjusted group differences in depression treatment patterns among individuals with arthritis and depression were analyzed using Chi-square tests. Multinomial logistic regressions were used to examine the relationship between depression treatment and demographic, socioeconomic, access to care, health status and lifestyle risk factors. All analysis accounted for complex survey design of MEPS. Overall, 20% of individuals with arthritis and depression had no depression treatment, 56% used antidepressants only and 24% used psychotherapy with or without antidepressants. After controlling for all other independent variables, we found that compared to whites, African Americans (AOR=0.37) and Latinos (AOR=0.28) were significantly less likely to use antidepressants only. Individuals with middle income (AOR=0.32) were significantly less likely to receive psychotherapy with or without antidepressants, than individuals with high income. One in every five individuals with both arthritis and depression did not have any treatment for depression. Racial and socio-economic disparities in depression treatment were found. Further research is required to explore that whether lack of depression treatment results in poor health outcomes related to arthritis among individuals with arthritis and depression.