Differences in patients' perceived helpfulness of depression treatment provided by general medical providers and specialty mental health providers.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the differences in the level of perceived helpfulness of treatments received for a major depressive episode (MDE) from a general medical provider only, a specialty mental health provider only or both.

METHOD

This study examined a sample of 8900 respondents from the 2008-2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health aged 18-64 who had past 12-month MDE (based on criteria specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth edition) and received treatment for depression. Generalized ordered logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the association between the type of treatment providers and perceived helpfulness of depression treatment.

RESULTS

Adults who received depression treatment from either specialty mental health providers alone or from both specialty mental health providers and general medical providers in the past year were more likely to report that treatment helped them. The differences persisted after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, comorbid health conditions, receipt of depression medication and severity of depression (adjusted odds ratios across level of perceived helpfulness ranged from 1.63 to 3.96).

CONCLUSIONS

This finding calls for greater attention to factors associated with provider type and organizational context that may contribute to differences in perceived helpfulness of depression treatment.