How Well Are We Treating Depression?

To determine trends in depression treatment, these researchers reviewed Florida Medicaid records of 56,805 adults diagnosed with depression in 1996–2006.

After adjustments for inflation and clinical factors such as comorbidity, the cost of mental health care per patient increased by 29% from 1996 to 2006, even though spending for inpatient mental health treatment decreased by 42% (because the hospitalization rate decreased from 9.1% to 5.1%) and spending on outpatient visits increased only 21%. Spending on antidepressants increased by 22%, while the cost of antianxiety drugs decreased, probably because almost all of these medications became generic. Fewer patients received psychotherapy (decrease from 57% to 38%). Prescriptions for antipsych…