Mental Health Care Resource Utilization and Barriers to Receiving Mental Health Services Among US Adults With a Major Depressive Episode and Suicidal Ideation or Behavior With Intent

Mental Health Treatment Use, Perceived Treatment Need, and Reasons for Non-Use Among U.S. Adults with Serious Suicidal Thoughts During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Analyzing the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data with generalized linear models, we examined: (1) COVID pandemic-related and other correlates of mental health treatment use and unmet perceived treatment need among U.S. adults who experienced serious suicidal thoughts (N = 3,177); and (2) correlates of self-reported reasons for not receiving treatment. We found that 61% used any mental health treatment, and 48% of users and 37% of nonusers reported perceived treatment need. Significant correlates of treatment use were demographic factors, insurance, major depressive disorder, and illicit drug use disorder. Significant correlates of perceived treatment need were age 18-34, some college education, and major depressive episode. Perceived negative effect of the COVID pandemic on mental health was a significant factor for both treatment use and perceived need. The most frequent reasons for not getting treatment were the cost of treatment or lack of insurance and stigma-related concerns.

Trends and Factors Associated With the Mortality Rate of Depressive Episodes: An Analysis of the CDC Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiological Research (WONDER) Database

Background Depressive episodes are associated with increased mortality rates across the United States. Recognizing the relationship between depression and physical health, understanding the contributing factors, and addressing disparities are critical in reducing mortality rates and improving the overall well-being of individuals experiencing depressive episodes. Continued research, public health efforts, and collaborative approaches are essential to tackle this complex public health concern effectively. Studying the mortality rate trends of depressive episodes along with other related factors will help enhance the understanding of the condition, which, in turn, will assist in reducing mortality rates in the vulnerable population. Methodology Data from the CDC Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) database on the Underlying Cause of Death were examined to identify individuals who experienced fatal outcomes related to depressive episodes from 1999 to 2020. The WONDER database refers to the online system used by the CDC to make its various resources accessible to the public and public health experts. CDC WONDER offers access to a broader range of information on public health. Results A total of 13,290 individuals who died from depressive episodes between 1999 and 2020 were identified. Data analysis revealed an overall mortality rate of 0.20 per 100,000 individuals during the specified period. The highest mortality rates were observed in the years 2003 (0.28), 2001 (0.27), and 1999 (0.27). The analysis revealed significant disparities in mortality rates among different demographic groups. Older adults, females, specific racial groups, including Whites and African Americans, and specific geographic areas, including the Midwest, Northeast, South, and West, exhibited higher mortality rates associated with depressive episodes. Conclusions The study identified that older individuals, females, Whites, and African Americans, as well as certain geographic regions, exhibited an increased likelihood of mortality related to depressive episodes. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the complex interplay between mental health and mortality. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing disparities in mental health outcomes among different demographic groups. Identifying vulnerable populations can inform targeted interventions and resources to address the elevated mortality risk.

Rising Rates of Suicidal Behaviors and Large Unmet Treatment Needs Among US Adults With a Major Depressive Episode, 2009 to 2020

OBJECTIVE

To examine recent 12-year trends in the incidence of suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempts (SAs) and receipt of mental health treatment among individuals experiencing a past-year major depressive episode (MDE).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Using data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, we estimated the annual percentage of individuals with MDE who reported past-year SI or SAs and their use of mental health services from 2009 to 2020 and calculated odds ratios (ORs) for longitudinal change adjusting for potentially confounding factors.

RESULTS

During our study period, the weighted unadjusted proportion of patients with a past-year MDE who reported SI increased from 26.2% (668,690 of 2,550,641) to 32.5% (1,068,504 of 3,285,986; OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.25 to 1.51) and remained significant in the multivariable-adjusted analysis (P<.001). The greatest increase in SI was seen among Hispanic patients, young adults, and individuals with alcohol use disorder. Similar trends were seen for past-year SAs, increasing from 2.7% (69,548 of 2,550,641) to 3.3% (108,135 of 3,285,986; OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.61), especially among Black individuals, patients with incomes greater than $75,000, and those with substance use disorders. In multivariable-adjusted analyses, the temporal trend of increasing SI and SAs remained significant (P<.001 and P=0.04, respectively). Among individuals with past-year SI or SAs, there was no notable change in the mental health service use, and over 50% of individuals with MDE and SI (2,472,401 of 4,861,298) reported unmet treatment needs. No notable differences were observed between 2019 and 2020, reflecting the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

CONCLUSION

Among individuals with MDE, rates of SI and SAs have increased, especially among racial minorities and individuals with substance use disorders, without a corresponding change in mental health service use.

Esketamine nasal spray for major depressive disorder with acute suicidal ideation or behavior: description of treatment access, utilization, and claims-based outcomes in the United States

AIMS

To describe real-world esketamine nasal spray access and use as well as healthcare resource use (HRU) and costs among adults with evidence of major depressive disorder (MDD) with suicidal ideation or behavior (MDSI).

METHODS

Adults with ≥1 claim for esketamine nasal spray and evidence of MDSI 12 months before/on the date of esketamine initiation (index date) were selected from Clarivate's Real World Data product (01/2016-03/2021). Patients initiated esketamine on/after 03/05/2019 (esketamine approval for treatment-resistant depression; later approved for MDSI on 08/05/2020) were included in the overall cohort. Esketamine access (measured as approved/abandoned/rejected claims) and use were described post-index; HRU and healthcare costs (2021 USD) were described over 6 months pre- and post-index.

RESULTS

Among 269 patients in the overall cohort with esketamine pharmacy claims, 46.8% had the first pharmacy claim approved, 38.7% had it rejected, and 14.5% abandoned their claim; 169 patients were initiated on esketamine in the overall cohort (mean age 40.9 years, 62.1% female); 45.0% had ≥8 esketamine treatment sessions (recommended per label) with a mean [median] of 85.0 [58.5] days from index to 8th session (per label 28 days). Among 115 patients with ≥6 months of data post-index, in the 6-month pre- and post-index, respectively, 37.4% and 19.1% had all-cause inpatient admissions, 42.6% and 33.9% had emergency department visits, 92.2% and 81.7% had outpatient visits; mean ± standard deviation all-cause monthly total healthcare costs were $8,371±$15,792 and $6,486±$7,614, respectively.

LIMITATIONS

This was a descriptive claims-based analysis; no formal statistical comparisons were performed due to limited sample size as data covered up to 24 months of esketamine use in the US clinical setting.

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly half of patients experience access issues with first esketamine nasal spray treatment session. All-cause HRU and healthcare costs trend lower in the 6 months after relative to 6 months before esketamine initiation.

Social determinants and distance from certified treatment centers are associated with initiation of esketamine nasal spray among patients with challenging-to-treat major depressive disorder

Indicated for treatment-resistant depression or major depression with suicidal ideation, esketamine (ESK) is self-administered under supervision at certified treatment centers. Our study was to determine if social determinants of health and distance were associated with ESK utilization. We conducted a retrospective cohort study among 308 US adults initiating ESK between October 11, 2019 and December 31, 2020 and 1540 propensity-score matched controls with treatment-resistant depression or major depression with suicidal ideation. Adjusting for demographics, prior health care utilization and comorbidities, social determinant variables and distance were regressed separately on each outcome: ESK initiation, failure to complete induction (8 treatments in 45 days), and discontinuation within 6 months. ESK initiation was associated with higher population density (odds ratio [OR]: 2.12), American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Other Pacific Islander (OR: 3.19), and mental health (OR: 1.55) and primary care providers (OR: 1.55) per capita. Lower likelihood of ESK initiation was associated with living > 7.2 miles from a treatment center (OR: 0.75), living in rural areas (OR: 0.64), and percent non-Hispanic African American (OR: 0.58) and Hispanic (OR: 0.40). Health care providers should tailor patient engagement strategies to mitigate potential barriers to initiating and continuing appropriate treatment. Failing to complete induction was associated with substance use disorder and longer distance to treatment center was associated with discontinuation (hazard ratio: 1.48), as was percent Asian population (hazard ratio: 1.37). Prior psychiatric care and residence in counties with high rates of primary care providers per capita, unemployment, and high school graduation were associated with both higher likelihood of completing induction and lower likelihood of discontinuation.

Unmet need in major depressive disorder and acute suicidal ideation or behavior: findings from a longitudinal electronic health record data analysis

AIMS

Using a national electronic health records (EHR) database, the current study describes treatments, depression severity, and health care resource utilization (HRU) among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and acute suicidal ideation or behavior (MDSI) prior to, during, and following a suicide-related event in the United States.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective matched cohort study used data collected from the Optum EHR de-identified database for patients with diagnosis codes for MDD and acute suicidal ideation or behavior and a propensity score-matched cohort of patients without MDD or a suicide-related event. The study period was 31 October 2015-30 September 2019. MDD-related treatments and 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores, when available, were assessed at the first health care encounter for a suicide-related event (index period), 12 months before (pre-period), and 6 months after (post-period). All-cause and MDD-related HRU were assessed during the post-period.

RESULTS

The mean (standard deviation) age of patients with MDSI was 39 (16) years; 55.0% were female. Index events occurred as follows: inpatient stay, 38.9%; observation unit stay, 4.6%; emergency department (ED) visit, 46.5%; and outpatient visit, 10.1%. Antidepressants and psychotherapy were the most common pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments, respectively, prescribed during the pre- (31.3%, 9.5%, respectively) and index (41.2%, 18.7%, respectively) periods. Post-period data (n = 40,261) revealed only 43.4% received an antidepressant and 20.5% had psychotherapy after the suicide-related event. Few patients had PHQ-9 scores recorded during the pre- (4.4%), index (1.3%), and post- (7.6%) periods. During the post-period, 11.8%, 5.0%, and 33.1% of patients had ≥1 all-cause inpatient stay, observation unit stay, and ED visit, respectively; 61.0% had ≥1 all-cause and 33.4% ≥1 MDD-related outpatient visit. Most patients with MDSI and an inpatient encounter or ED visit were discharged to home or self-care (65.4%). Odds of an all-cause hospital encounter during the post-period were higher for patients with versus without MDSI (by 30.1, 33.5, and 33.9 times for inpatient stay, ED visit, and observation unit stay, respectively).

CONCLUSION

This analysis highlights an opportunity to improve outcomes for this vulnerable population. More complete data on patient outcomes is needed to inform strategies designed to optimize screening and treatment.