Healthy Life Journal

Many people who suffer from depression are not getting the treatment that they need. Recent reports show that only half of Americans who suffer from depression receive any type of treatment for it, and certain minorities may face even greater difficulties in receiving the treatment that they need.

Researchers found that only one in five Americans that suffer from clinical depression receives treatment that is consistent with the recommended guidelines. In addition, African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, and Caribbean blacks that have depression were half as likely as other ethnic groups to receive any type of treatment for depression or the recommended care.

Researcher Hector M. Gonzalez, Ph.D., from the Wayne State University in Detroit, and his colleagues wrote in the Archives of General Psychiatry, “Although depression is a leading cause of disability in the United States, few Americans with recent major depression receive any form of standard care and even fewer receive care that is concordant with the American Psychiatric Association guideline.”

The recommended treatment for depression depends on the individual’s needs and often includes a combination of medication and psychotherapy. In this study, the researchers analyzed information from a nationwide survey of approximately 15,762 adults conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health between the years of 2001 and 2003.

The results showed that 8.3 percent had depression, which included 8 percent of Mexican-Americans, 7.9 percent of Caribbean blacks, 8.6 percent of non-Latino whites, 11.8 percent of Puerto Ricans and 6.7 percent of African-Americans. Overall, 51 percent of the people that had depression received at least one form of treatment, but only 21 percent of them received at least one form of depression treatment that conformed to established treatment guidelines within the past year.

According to the study, Mexican-Americans, Caribbean blacks and African-Americans were the least likely to receive any form of depression treatment, with only 12 to 14 percent receiving any type of care. Of the participants who received treatment for depression, approximately 45 percent of them received psychotherapy without any medication and 34 percent were prescribed antidepressants. The study showed that the people who were undergoing psychotherapy were more likely to receive treatment for depression in line with recommended guidelines than those who just received the medication. The researchers also found that African-Americans and Mexican-Americans used the antidepressants less often than whites.

The results of the study reveal disparities in health care access that are often overlooked. For example, Mexican-Americans showed the greatest inequalities in mental health care in this new study. The lack of health care insurance partly explained the lack of adequate treatment for depression; however it did not explain the low rate of depression treatment among African-Americans.

Depression is a serious illness that needs to be treated. If left untreated, it can lead to other health issues. There are a vareity of options today to help treat depression, so if you suffer from depression, talk with your doctor to see what you can do to get back on track to a happy, healthier you.