Determinants of receiving mental health care for depression in older adults

• Published in: Journal of affective disorders 2012-12, Vol.143 (1), p.69-74
• Main Authors: Holvast, Floor, Verhaak, Peter F.M, Dekker, Janny H, de Waal, Margot W.M, van Marwijk, Harm W.J, Penninx, Brenda W.J.H, Comijs, Hannie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Affective disorders; Age; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anxiety; Anxiety-Depression; Biological and medical sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data processing; Depression; Depression - therapy; Depressive Disorder - therapy; Depressive Disorder, Major - therapy; Depressive disorder/Depression; Depressive personality disorders; Elderly people; Female; Geriatrics; Health care delivery/Mental health services; Health Services Needs and Demand; Households; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Mental disorders; Mental Health; Mental Health Services; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Mood disorders; Netherlands; Perception; Primary care; Primary Health Care; Psychiatric disorders; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Social psychiatry. Ethnopsychiatry; Socioeconomic Factors
• ISSN: 0165-0327; 1573-2517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2012.05.029

Abstract Background Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is common among elderly people. However, it appears that only a minority receives treatment. This study aims to identify and analyse the factors that determine whether elderly people with depressive disorders have contact with health care professionals for mental problems. Method Cross-sectional analysis of cohort data collected in the Netherlands Study of Depression in Older persons (NESDO) and the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA) among 167 respondents aged ≥55 with a depressive disorder as indicated by the CIDI. Contacts for mental health problems during the past six months (TiC-P), and indicators of predisposing, enabling, and objective need factors were assessed by interview. Results Of the total sample, 70% had contact for mental health problems, almost entirely within primary care (62%). The odds of having contact increased with advancing age; for respondents born in the Netherlands; for those who felt less lonely; and for those with a higher household income. Limitations Our study is based on base-line interviews and thus has a cross-sectional character. Therefore, causal conclusions cannot be drawn. Furthermore, we studied the respondents' perception whether mental health care was received. Conclusions The contact rate for mental health problems is high. Health care professionals should be aware that having contact is not associated with a higher objective need, but rather with increasing age, being Dutch-born, being less lonely and having a higher household income.