Mental Health Service Use (mental + health_service_use)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Survey Conditioning in Self-Reported Mental Health Service Use: Randomized Comparison of Alternative Instrument Formats

HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, Issue 2 2007
Naihua Duan
Objective. To test the effect of survey conditioning (whether observed survey responses are affected by previous experience in the same survey or similar surveys) in a survey instrument used to assess mental health service use. Data Sources. Primary data collected in the National Latino and Asian American Study, a cross-sectional household survey of Latinos and Asian Americans residing in the United States. Study Design. Study participants are randomly assigned to a Traditional Instrument with an interleafed format placing service use questions after detailed questions on disorders, or a Modified Instrument with an ensemble format screening for service use near the beginning of the survey. We hypothesize the ensemble format to be less susceptible to survey conditioning than the interleafed format. We compare self-reported mental health services use measures (overall, aggregate categories, and specific categories) between recipients of the two instruments, using 2 × 2 ,2 tests and logistic regressions that control for key covariates. Data Collection. In-person computer-assisted interviews, conducted in respondent's preferred language (English, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Tagalog, or Vietnamese). Principal Findings. Higher service use rates are reported with the Modified Instrument than with the Traditional Instrument for all service use measures; odds ratios range from 1.41 to 3.10, all p -values <.001. Results are similar across ethnic groups and insensitive to model specification. Conclusions. Survey conditioning biases downward reported mental health service use when the instrument follows an interleafed format. An ensemble format should be used when it is feasible for measures that are susceptible to survey conditioning. [source]


Recent time trends in levels of self-reported anxiety, mental health service use and suicidal behaviour in Stockholm

ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 1 2010
K. Kosidou
Kosidou K, Magnusson C, Mittendorfer-Rutz E, Hallqvist J, Gumpert CH, Idrizbegovic S, Dal H, Dalman C. Recent time trends in levels of self-reported anxiety, mental health service use and suicidal behaviour in Stockholm. Objective:, To investigate recent time trends in several indicators of mental ill-health and the patterning of these indicators between genders and younger vs. older individuals in Stockholm County. Method:, Several indicators were used; self-reported anxiety from the Swedish Survey of Living Conditions, information on psychiatric in-patient and out-patient care, attempted and completed suicides from national and regional registers. Gender- and age-specific trends were compared for the time period of 1997,2006. Results:, Self-reported anxiety and psychiatric service use increased among young individuals of both genders, while attempted suicides increased only among young women. By contrast, these indicators decreased or remained stable in the older age group from year 2001 and onwards. Conclusion:, Our data indicate a rising, and highly prevalent, mental ill-health among the young in Stockholm County, a region representative of urbanized, secular Western societies. [source]


Survey Conditioning in Self-Reported Mental Health Service Use: Randomized Comparison of Alternative Instrument Formats

HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, Issue 2 2007
Naihua Duan
Objective. To test the effect of survey conditioning (whether observed survey responses are affected by previous experience in the same survey or similar surveys) in a survey instrument used to assess mental health service use. Data Sources. Primary data collected in the National Latino and Asian American Study, a cross-sectional household survey of Latinos and Asian Americans residing in the United States. Study Design. Study participants are randomly assigned to a Traditional Instrument with an interleafed format placing service use questions after detailed questions on disorders, or a Modified Instrument with an ensemble format screening for service use near the beginning of the survey. We hypothesize the ensemble format to be less susceptible to survey conditioning than the interleafed format. We compare self-reported mental health services use measures (overall, aggregate categories, and specific categories) between recipients of the two instruments, using 2 × 2 ,2 tests and logistic regressions that control for key covariates. Data Collection. In-person computer-assisted interviews, conducted in respondent's preferred language (English, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Tagalog, or Vietnamese). Principal Findings. Higher service use rates are reported with the Modified Instrument than with the Traditional Instrument for all service use measures; odds ratios range from 1.41 to 3.10, all p -values <.001. Results are similar across ethnic groups and insensitive to model specification. Conclusions. Survey conditioning biases downward reported mental health service use when the instrument follows an interleafed format. An ensemble format should be used when it is feasible for measures that are susceptible to survey conditioning. [source]


Self-reported use of mental health services versus administrative records: care to recall?

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 3 2004
Anne E. Rhodes
Abstract Estimates of the level of unmet need for mental health treatment often rely on self-reported use of mental health services. However, depressed persons may over-report their use in relation to administrative records if they are highly distressed. This study seeks to replicate and explicate the finding that persons at a high level of distress report more mental health service use than recorded in their healthcare records. The study sample, N=36,892, 12 years and older, was drawn from the 1996/97 Ontario portion of the Canadian National Population Health Survey. Respondents were individually linked to their administrative mental healthcare records 12 months backward in time. Of these, 96.5% agreed to the link and 23,063 (62.5%) were linked. Almost two-thirds of those who were depressed in the past year were currently at a high level of distress. Differential reporting of use for highly distressed persons in excess of 100% remained in the use of different types of physician providers after adjustments for other potential determinants of use. Telescoping was also not an explanation. The patterns of differential reporting between groups expected to diverge and converge in their recall ability were consistent with a recall bias. As this study was not able to rule out a recall bias, it further accentuates concerns about the impact of bias in the measurement of mental health-service use and inferences made concerning the determinants of use. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source]


Self-reported use of mental health services versus administrative records: should we care?

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 3 2002
Dr Anne E. Rhodes
Abstract Studies of mental health services have emphasized that people in need are not receiving treatment. However, these studies, based on self-reported use, may not be consistent with administrative records. This study compared self-reports of mental health service use with administrative records in a large representative sample. Respondent reports within the Ontario portion of the 1994/95 Household Component of the National Population Health Survey (NPHS) were individually linked to the provincial mental-health physician reimbursement claims. A total of 5,187 Ontarians, aged 12 years or more, reported on their use of mental healthcare within the NPHS and 4,621 (89%) consented and were successfully linked to administrative records. Comparisons between the two sources identified that the agreement for any use and volume of use was moderate to low and varied according to select respondent characteristics. These differences affected estimates of the associations with use and volume of use. People who reported high levels of distress reported more visits than those who did not and this effect was stronger in the self-reported data. These results suggest that recall bias may be present. Regardless of the definition of care, access for those in need remains a concern despite universal medical insurance coverage. Copyright © 2002 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source]


Cultural and practical barriers to seeking mental health treatment for Chinese Americans

JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 1 2004
Winnie W. KungArticle first published online: 11 DEC 200
Based on a sample of 1747 from the Chinese American Psychiatric Epidemiological Study, this report examined perceived barriers to mental health treatment. Two factors emerged, namely practical barriers, which included cost of treatment, time, knowledge of access, and language, and cultural barriers consisting of credibility of treatment, recognition of need, and fear of loss of face. Average ratings of all practical barrier items were higher than cultural barrier items, demonstrating the importance of pragmatic considerations for this population. In a novel attempt, this study examined the empirical link between these perceived barriers and actual mental health service use. The practical barrier factor showed significance in predicting service use for both the whole sample and a subsample of individuals with at least one lifetime mental disorder. Cultural barriers, however, did not attain significance. Practice and research implications of the findings are discussed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 32: 27,43, 2004. [source]


Use of mental health treatment among veterans filing claims for posttraumatic stress disorder

JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS, Issue 1 2007
Nina A. Sayer
This study examines predictors of current mental health service use in a sample of 154 veterans filing claims for Veterans Affairs (VA) disability benefits based on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Our conceptual framework was the behavioral model that classifies predictors of service utilization into predisposing (background), enabling (e.g., insurance) and need (e.g., symptoms) factors. Slightly more than half of the PTSD claimants were receiving mental health treatment at the time of claim initiation. Mean symptom levels were clinically significant in both users and nonusers of mental health treatment. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, mental health treatment use was associated with younger age, marriage, and dependence on public insurance. Implications for future research are discussed. [source]


The impact of children's emotional and behavioural difficulties on their lives and their use of mental health services

PAEDIATRIC & PERINATAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 5 2009
Gloria A. Simpson
Summary This paper examines the relationship between the impact of children's emotional and behavioural difficulties and the use of mental health services, using 3 years of nationally representative data from the National Health Interview Survey. Data for the years 2001, 2003 and 2004 were combined (n = 29 265) to identify a sample of 1423 children aged 4,17 years with emotional/behavioural difficulties. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used. About 5% of U.S. children had emotional or behavioural difficulties. Children whose difficulty was a burden on their family were almost twice as likely to have contact with a mental health professional. Younger children (aged 4,7 years), Hispanic children and non-Hispanic black children with emotional or behavioural difficulties were less likely to use mental health services. These findings indicate that children's emotional and behavioural difficulties influence their lives and those of their families, leading parents to seek help. Racial disparities in mental health service use exist when controlling for the severity and the burden of these difficulties. [source]


Gender disparities in mental health service use of Puerto Rican children and adolescents

THE JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AND ALLIED DISCIPLINES, Issue 8 2006
José J. Cabiya
Background:, Differences in service utilization indicating that boys use more mental health services than girls were analyzed to see if they could be explained by known correlates of service use. These correlates were arranged into individual (severe emotional disturbance, level of impairment and externalizing disorders), family (parental education, psychopathology and parental concern) and school factors (difficulties with school work). The objectives were to understand and identify the factors accounting for gender differences in mental health service utilization in order to develop alternatives to promote equity in service delivery. Methods:, A representative sample of 1,896 children 4 to 17 years of age and their primary caretakers were interviewed for this study. Reports of service use were obtained using the Service Assessment for Children and Adolescents. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between gender and service use, adjusting for known correlates. Results:, Our results showed that, except for impairment, other individual, family and school factors did not explain gender differences in service utilization. Males with impairment were 2.87 times more likely to receive services than impaired females (p , .01), and this result continued to hold true for impaired undiagnosed boys compared to impaired diagnoses-free girls (p , .001). Conclusions:, Our findings showed a service disparity between impaired boys and girls who did not meet criteria for a DSM IV diagnosis, but no observed differences in service use between boys and girls who met criteria for severe emotional disturbance (SED). Continued investigations are necessary to analyze, assess and understand the different circumstances that bring boys and girls into treatment, followed by the development of appropriate intervention programs at the school and community levels. [source]