Biomedical subjects

Mark Olfson

Publications and source records attributed to Mark Olfson.

70 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Perceived need and help-seeking in adults with mood, anxiety, or substance use disorders.

BACKGROUND: A majority of adults with common mental disorders do not seek professional help. To better understand why not, we examined the correlates of various stages of help-seeking, including perceived need for professional help, seeking such help, and from which professionals participants sought help. METHODS: The sample for this study comprised 1792 participants in the National Comorbidity Survey, conducted from 1990-1992, who were diagnosed with a 12-month DSM-III-R mood, anxiety, or substance disorder. In this sample, we assessed correlates of perceived need for professional help, seeking professional help among those with a need, and, among those who did seek professional help, seeking help from mental health professionals. RESULTS: Mood disorders, comorbid mood and anxiety disorders, and mental disorders associated with impairment in role functioning or suicidality were strong predictors of perceived need. Psychopathology was also associated with the decision to seek help from mental health professionals, but not with the decision to seek professional help overall. After controlling for the nature and severity of psychopathology, various sociodemographic and attitudinal factors appeared to be associated with perception of need, help-seeking, and participants' choices of professionals. CONCLUSIONS: Unmet need for mental health care is a serious public health problem. Meeting this need requires expanding our attention beyond psychopathology to various evaluations and decisions that affect help-seeking. Our results suggest the importance of attitude and behavior change strategies in reducing the gap between need and care.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Self-perception of poor health and suicidal ideation in medical patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between self-perceived health and suicidal ideation among patients in general internal medicine practice settings. METHOD: A representative sample of 4007 patients was assessed for current suicidal ideation, self-perception of health, current medical disorders and current mental disorders (major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks and alcohol use disorder) with the PRIME-MD Patient Health Questionnaire. RESULTS: Patients with self-perception of poor health, compared with those who reported more favourable health perception, were significantly more likely to report current suicidal ideation (35.2% v. 8.3%; chi2 = 97.4, df = 1, P < 0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the perception of poor health was associated with a significantly increased risk of suicidal ideation (OR = 3.1, CI 1.9, 5.0), even after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, mental disorders and common physical illnesses. CONCLUSION: Self-perception of poor health is associated with a significantly increased risk of suicidal ideation among general medical patients, even in the absence of common mental and physical disorders. These findings add to a growing literature on the importance of self-perceived health in the treatment and outcomes of mental and physical well-being by documenting self-perceived poor health as a risk factor for suicidal ideation in medical patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Using state administrative and pharmacy data bases to develop a clinical decision support tool for schizophrenia guidelines.

Administrative and pharmacy data bases represent a largely untapped resource for clinical decision support and quality improvement. In this study, we examined the feasibility of using New York State Office of Mental Health (NYSOMH) data bases to develop an automated clinical report to support implementation of schizophrenia guidelines. First we reviewed the structure of existing data bases for capacity and limitations in supporting guideline implementation. Second, we identified schizophrenia guideline recommendations and adherence measures that would be the focus of our implementation. Third, a preliminary report was programmed, based on operational definitions of the guideline recommendations. Finally, we developed user groups to define content and format of new reports, through an iterative process of field testing, feedback, and revision. Our experience suggests that administrative and pharmacy data bases, despite their limitations, can be used to develop guideline-based clinical decision support tools for schizophrenia with high physician acceptability.

Antipsychotic Agents↗

PubMed2002

National trends in the use of psychotropic medications by children.

OBJECTIVES: Little information exists on national trends in the use of psychotropic medication by children and adolescents. The objective of this report is to compare patterns and predictors of psychotropic medication use by children and adolescents in the United States in 1987 and 1996. METHOD: An analysis of medication use data is presented from two nationally representative surveys of the general population focusing on children 18 years of age and younger who used one or more prescribed psychotropic medication during the survey years. Rates of stimulant, antidepressant, and other psychotropic medication use are reported. RESULTS: The overall annual rate of psychotropic medication use by children increased from 1.4 per 100 persons in 1987 to 3.9 in 1996 (p < .0001). Significant increases were found in the rate of stimulant use (0.6 per 100 persons to 2.4 per 100 persons), antidepressant use (0.3 per 100 persons to 1.0 per 100 persons), other psychotropic medications (0.6 per 100 persons to 1.2 per 100 persons), and coprescription of different classes of psychotropic medications (0.03 per 100 persons to 0.23 per 100 persons), especially antidepressants and stimulants. Rates of antipsychotic and benzodiazepine use remained stable. In 1996, stimulant use was especially common in children aged 6 to 14 years (4.1 per 100), and antidepressant use was common in children aged 15 to 18 years (2.1 per 100 persons). CONCLUSION: Between 1987 and 1996, there was a marked expansion in use of psychotropic medications by children, especially stimulants and antidepressants.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Interventions to improve medication adherence in schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: Although nonadherence with the antipsychotic medication regimen is a common barrier to the effective treatment for schizophrenia, knowledge is limited about how to improve medication adherence. This systematic literature review examined psychosocial interventions for improving medication adherence, focusing on promising initiatives, reasonable standards for conducting research in this area, and implications for clinical practice. METHOD: Studies were identified by computerized searches of MEDLINE and PsychLIT for the years between 1980 and 2000 and by manual searches of relevant bibliographies and conference proceedings. Key articles were summarized. RESULTS: Thirteen (33%) of 39 identified studies reported significant intervention effects. Although interventions and family therapy programs relying on psychoeducation were common in clinical practice, they were typically ineffective. Concrete problem solving or motivational techniques were common features of successful programs. Interventions targeted specifically to problems of nonadherence were more likely to be effective (55%) than were more broadly based treatment interventions (26%). One-half (four of eight) of the successful interventions not specifically focused on nonadherence involved an array of supportive and rehabilitative community-based services. CONCLUSIONS: Psychoeducational interventions without accompanying behavioral components and supportive services are not likely to be effective in improving medication adherence in schizophrenia. Models of community care such as assertive community treatment and interventions based on principles of motivational interviewing are promising. Providing patients with concrete instructions and problem-solving strategies, such as reminders, self-monitoring tools, cues, and reinforcements, is useful. Problems in adherence are recurring, and booster sessions are needed to reinforce and consolidate gains.

Antipsychotic Agents↗

PubMed2002

National trends in the use of outpatient psychotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: This article reports recent trends in the use of outpatient psychotherapy in the United States. METHOD: Data from the household sections of the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey and the 1997 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey were analyzed. Trends in the rate of psychotherapy use from these nationally representative samples are presented by age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, employment status, and income. Psychotherapy users are compared over time by provider specialty, concomitant psychotropic medication use, number of annual visits, and costs. In addition, trends in payment source and primary diagnosis are assessed for psychotherapy visits. RESULTS: Between 1987 and 1997, there was no statistically significant change in the overall rate of psychotherapy use (3.2 per 100 persons in 1987 and 3.6 per 100 in 1997). However, significant increases were observed in psychotherapy use by adults aged 55-64 years and by unemployed adults. Among psychotherapy patients, there was a marked increase in the use of antidepressant medications (14.4% to 48.6%), mood stabilizers (5.3% to 14.5%), stimulants (1.9% to 6.4%), and psychotherapy provided by physicians (48.1% to 64.7%). A smaller proportion of patients made more than 20 psychotherapy visits in 1997 (10.3%) than in 1987 (15.7%). Over this period, psychotherapy visits for mood disorders became more common. In 1997, 9.7 million Americans spent $5.7 billion on outpatient psychotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: From 1987 to 1997, access to psychotherapy in the United States remained constant overall but was characterized by increased use by some socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. However, the number of visits per user markedly decreased during this period. Psychotherapy was increasingly administered by physicians and provided in conjunction with psychotropic medications. These changes occurred during a period of expansion in the number of available psychotropic medications and growth in managed behavioral health care.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Trends in the treatment of bipolar disorder by outpatient psychiatrists.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined recent changes in the prescribing patterns for medications to treat bipolar disorder in office-based psychiatric practice. METHOD: The authors analyzed physician-reported data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey for 1992-1995 and 1996-1999, focusing on physicians specializing in psychiatry. Demographic, clinical, and medication prescription characteristics of patients' visits were compared to identify changes between the periods. Logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of medication prescription, with adjustment for the presence of other covariates. RESULTS: In both survey periods, over one-third of the total psychiatrist visits by patients with bipolar disorder did not include prescription of a mood stabilizer. There was a decrease in the use of lithium over time, accompanied by an increase in the use of valproic acid. Antipsychotic medication was prescribed more frequently for the bipolar manic and mixed subtypes, and there was a secular increase in the use of the newer antipsychotics. During each time period, prescription of antidepressants was common, often in the absence of a mood stabilizer. CONCLUSIONS: Despite important advances in the range of mood stabilizers available, the pharmacological treatment of bipolar disorder continues to be an area with substantial opportunity for quality improvement.

Ambulatory Care↗

PubMed2002

Psychotic symptoms in an urban general medicine practice.

OBJECTIVE: The authors' goals were to estimate the prevalence of psychotic symptoms among adults attending an urban general medical practice that serves a low-income population and to describe the mental health, social and occupational functioning, and mental health treatment of these patients. METHOD: Data were drawn from a recent study of adult primary care patients (N=1,005) in a large, urban, university-affiliated general medicine practice. During a medical visit, patients completed the psychotic disorders section of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders, a drug use disorders screen, the Sheehan Disability Scale, and a questionnaire that probed demographic characteristics, health status, and mental health treatment. RESULTS: Two hundred ten (20.9%) patients reported one or more psychotic symptoms, most commonly auditory hallucinations. There was an inverse correlation between family income and the prevalence of psychotic symptoms and a positive association between prevalence and Hispanic ethnicity. Compared with patients without psychotic symptoms, patients with psychotic symptoms were significantly more likely to have major depression (42.4% versus 12.6%), panic disorder (24.8% versus 4.0%), generalized anxiety disorder (38.6% versus 8.4%), and alcohol use disorder (12.9% versus 5.0%). They were also more likely to report current suicidal ideation (20.0% versus 3.5%), recent work loss (55.0% versus 35.6%), and marital distress (28.6% versus 13.0%). Approximately one-half of the patients with psychotic symptoms (47.6%) had taken a prescribed psychotropic medication during the last month. CONCLUSIONS: Psychotic symptoms were highly prevalent in this primary care practice. These patients were at risk for several common mental disorders and often reported impaired work and social functioning. Future research should clarify the extent to which psychotic symptom reports among Hispanic patients are affected by culturally patterned idioms of distress. Clinicians who work in primary care practices that serve low-income patient populations should routinely inquire about psychotic symptoms.

Alcohol-Related Disorders↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Trends in elderly patients' office visits for the treatment of depression according to physician specialty: 1985-1999.

Changes from 1985 to 1999 in diagnosis of depression and prescription of antidepressant medications during visits by elderly patients to primary care physicians, psychiatrists, and other specialists were examined. Using nationally representative surveys of office-based practices, estimates of the proportion of office visits by elderly patients during which a physician diagnosed depression or prescribed an antidepressant medication were obtained. Between 1985 and 1993-1994, a significant increase in the rate of depression diagnosis was seen, but no change was observed between 1993-1994 and 1998-1999. Rates of prescribing of antidepressants more than doubled between 1985 and 1998-1999. The majority of depression visits and visits where an antidepressant was prescribed were to primary care physicians in all time periods examined. Primary care depression treatment initiatives should place greater emphasis on elderly patients.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Social anxiety disorder in primary care.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence, comorbidity, disability and mental health treatment associated with social anxiety disorder (SAD) in primary care, and to determine whether patients with SAD avoid seeking help from their primary care providers. DESIGN: We analyzed data from a health survey conducted on a systematic sample of patients. Data were then cross-linked to the practice's automated database in order to compare primary health care utilization by patients with SAD to that of patients with other psychiatric disorders and well controls. SETTING: Urban primary care practice at a teaching hospital. PATIENTS: A systematic sample (n=207) of primary care patients. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients were interviewed by mental health professionals using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Lifetime prevalence of SAD was 5.7%. Substance use disorders were far more common among patients with SAD than patients with other psychiatric disorders (33.3% vs. 3.3%, P=.01). Social anxiety disorder patients were functionally impaired and made fewer primary care visits per year (mean 4.1) compared to patients with other psychiatric disorders (mean 6.9; P=.016) or well controls (mean 6.4; P=.031); 41.7% reported receiving mental health treatment in the past year. CONCLUSION: Patients with SAD made fewer primary care visits compared to patients with other psychiatric disorders and well controls. These results, together with the high prevalence of substance use in SAD, and the finding that less than one half received past year mental health treatment, suggest substantial unmet need for care and are especially important in view of available effective treatments for SAD.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Posttraumatic stress disorder in primary care one year after the 9/11 attacks.

OBJECTIVE: To screen for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in primary care patients 7-16 months after 9/11 attacks and to examine its comorbidity, clinical presentation and relationships with mental health treatment and service utilization. METHOD: A systematic sample (n=930) of adult primary care patients who were seeking primary care at an urban general medicine clinic were interviewed using the PTSD Checklist: the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders (PRIME-MD) Patient Health Questionnaire and the Medical Outcome Study 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Health care utilization data were obtained by a cross linkage to the administrative computerized database. RESULTS: Prevalence estimates of current 9/11-related probable PTSD ranged from 4.7% (based on a cutoff PCL-C score of 50 and over) to 10.2% (based on the DSM-IV criteria). A comorbid mental disorder was more common among patients with PTSD than patients without PTSD (80% vs. 30%). Patients with PTSD were more functionally impaired and reported increased use of mental health medication as compared to patients without PTSD (70% vs. 18%). Among patients with PTSD there was no increase in hospital and emergency room (ER) admissions or outpatient care during the first year after the attacks. CONCLUSIONS: In an urban general medicine setting, 1 year after 9/11, the frequency of probable PTSD appears to be common and clinically significant. These results suggest an unmet need for mental health care in this clinical population and are especially important in view of available treatments for PTSD.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Asthma and mental disorders in primary care.

This study examines relationships between asthma and likelihood of current mental disorders and suicidal ideation in an urban primary care population. A systematic waiting room sample of 998 adult patients was screened for mental disorders using the PRIME-MD PHQ. Asthma diagnoses were provided by primary care physicians. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine the odds of current major depression, panic attacks, generalized anxiety disorder, alcohol and drug use disorder, and suicidal ideation among patients with a diagnosis of asthma, as compared to those without asthma. After controlling for differences in sociodemographic characteristics and comorbid mental disorders, asthma was associated with increased likelihood of panic attack (OR=1.7 (1.1, 2.6)) and suicidal ideation (OR=1.9 (1.03, 3.4)). There was no statistically significant association between asthma and major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, alcohol, or drug use disorders after adjustment. Results suggest that physician-diagnosed asthma is associated with self-reported panic attacks and suicidal ideation in a systematic sample of primary care patients. Physicians who treat patients with asthma should remain vigilant for the presence of comorbid psychiatric problems and carefully evaluate whether there is a clinical need to treat each condition.

Academic Medical Centers↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The most expensive medical conditions in America.

This study uses a nationally representative survey to identify the most expensive conditions in the United States and to examine the association between spending and disability. The most expensive conditions at a population level were ischemic heart disease and motor vehicle accidents; at the per capita level they were respiratory malignancies. There was not a significant association between rank order of treatment costs and disability; the conditions with the greatest disability relative to expenditures were mood disorders, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and arthropathies. We use the findings to discuss the role for cost-of-illness and burden-of-disease estimates in setting priorities.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Medication costs, adherence, and health outcomes among Medicare beneficiaries.

In a two-year period more than two million elderly Medicare beneficiaries did not adhere to drug treatment regimens because of cost. This poor adherence tended to be more common among beneficiaries with no or partial medication coverage and was associated with poorer health and higher rates of hospitalization. The risk for cost-related poor adherence was especially pronounced among lower-income beneficiaries with high out-of-pocket drug spending. We argue that this pattern of cost-related poor medication adherence should inform the design of Medicare prescription drug benefit legislation.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Listening to generic Prozac: winners, losers, and sideliners.

This study tracks the diffusion of generic fluoxetine after its release in August 2001 within the largest U.S. pharmacy benefit manager (PBM). Within two weeks of the generic's release, prescriptions exceeded those of brand-name Prozac. The main winners proved to be Barr Laboratories, the first entrant to the generic market; large purchasers, who reaped substantial cost savings after Barr's period of exclusivity expired; and the PBM. The major loser was Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Prozac. Consumers and makers of other antidepressants largely remained on the sidelines, with surprisingly little short-term impact evident from Prozac's patent expiration.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Depression in US Hispanics: diagnostic and management considerations in family practice.

US Hispanics, currently the largest minority group in the country, face disparities in the recognition and treatment of major depression. This article provides an evidence-based review of the prevalence, presentation, and management of major depression in primary care in this heterogeneous ethnic group. Under-recognition of depression in adult Hispanic Americans may be related to language differences, health literacy barriers, somatic presentations, and use of cultural idioms of distress. Hispanic patients are often agreeable to treatment but as a group may tend to prefer psychotherapy or combined counseling and medication to pharmacotherapy alone. Recent studies have found both psychological and pharmacologic treatment options are efficacious in this minority group. Treatment adherence should be actively monitored to help ensure its effectiveness. To help reduce the number of depressed Hispanic patients who pass through primary care undetected or inadequately treated, family physicians should make a concerted effort to increase their awareness of the presentation of major depression in this population and actively promote adherence to effective treatments.

Acculturation↗