Am J Psychiatry 155:871-877, July 1998
©Copyright 1998 American Psychiatric Association
Use of Health Services by Hospitalized Medically Ill Depressed Elderly Patients
Harold G. Koenig, M.D., and
Maragatha Kuchibhatla, Ph.D.
OBJECTIVE: The authors examined whether depression is associated with greater use of health services by elderly medical patients before and during hospitalization. METHOD: Depression and recent use of health services were assessed in 542 patients aged 60 or over who were consecutively admitted to university medical services. Depression was measured by using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and the depressive disorders section of the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule, which was administered by a psychiatrist. RESULTS: After age, sex, race, education, and severity of medical illness were controlled for, Hamilton depression score significantly predicted hospital days in the past year, hospital days and total inpatient days (hospital plus nursing home) in the past 3 months, and number of outpatient medical visits in the past 3 months. Depressed patients had more hospital days in the past year and had more hospital days, total inpatient days, and outpatient medical visits in the past 3 months than did nondepressed patients. Associations between depression and length of index hospital stay, home health visits, nursing home days, and number of prescription medications disappeared when severity of medical illness was controlled. Mental health visits were no more common among depressed than nondepressed patients. CONCLUSIONS: Depressed elderly medical inpatients used more hospital and outpatient medical services than nondepressed patients, but they did not receive more mental health services. Efforts by primary care physicians and third-party payers to identify and treat depression in this population are needed. (Am J Psychiatry 1998; 155:871–877)
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
L. Martin, J. W. Poss, J. P. Hirdes, R. N. Jones, M. J. Stones, and B. E. Fries
Predictors of a new depression diagnosis among older adults admitted to complex continuing care: implications for the depression rating scale (DRS)
Age Ageing,
January 1, 2008;
37(1):
51 - 56.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. M. Pot, D. J. H. Deeg, J. W. R. Twisk, A. T. F. Beekman, and S. H. Zarit
The Longitudinal Relationship Between the Use of Long-Term Care and Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults
Gerontologist,
June 1, 2005;
45(3):
359 - 369.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. A. Smith, J. Querques, J. L. Levenson, and T. A. Stern
Psychiatric Assessment and Consultation
Focus,
April 1, 2005;
3(2):
241 - 251.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. S. Hansen, P. Fink, and M. Frydenberg
Follow-Up on Mental Illness in Medical Inpatients: Health Care Use and Self-Rated Health and Physical Fitness
Psychosomatics,
August 1, 2004;
45(4):
302 - 310.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. F. Gitlin, J. L. Levenson, and C. G. Lyketsos
Psychosomatic Medicine: A New Psychiatric Subspecialty
Acad Psychiatry,
March 1, 2004;
28(1):
4 - 11.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Ayalon
Providing Care in the End of Life: Ethical and Therapeutic Considerations
Clinical Case Studies,
April 1, 2003;
2(2):
107 - 126.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. S. Hansen, P. Fink, M. Frydenberg, and M.-L. Oxhoj
Use of Health Services, Mental Illness, and Self-Rated Disability and Health in Medical Inpatients
Psychosom Med,
July 1, 2002;
64(4):
668 - 675.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Holsinger, D. C. Steffens, C. Phillips, M. J. Helms, R. J. Havlik, J. C. S. Breitner, J. M. Guralnik, and B. L. Plassman
Head Injury in Early Adulthood and the Lifetime Risk of Depression
Arch Gen Psychiatry,
January 1, 2002;
59(1):
17 - 22.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. de la Fuente
Pharmacologic and Nonpharmacologic Options for Anxiety and Depression in Late Life
Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association,
December 1, 2001;
7(6):
S8 - S13.
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. J. Bula, V. Wietlisbach, B. Burnand, and B. Yersin
Depressive Symptoms as a Predictor of 6-Month Outcomes and Services Utilization in Elderly Medical Inpatients
Arch Intern Med,
November 26, 2001;
161(21):
2609 - 2615.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Costs for Health Care Services for Depression
Journal Watch Psychiatry,
September 1, 1998;
1998(901):
2 - 2.
[Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depression Common in Hospitalized Elderly Women
Journal Watch Women's Health,
August 1, 1998;
1998(801):
15 - 15.
[Full Text]
|
|
|
Get information about faster international access.
Privacy Policy
Copyright © 1998
American Psychiatric Association.
All rights reserved.
Home
| Search
| Current Issue
| Past Issues
| Subscribe
| All APPI Journals
| Help
| Contact Us
|
