Depressive symptoms predict medical care utilization in a population-based sample.

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Previous studies indicate a link between depressive symptoms and healthcare use, but often suffer from selection bias.
• This study addresses limitations in prior research by examining prospective medical utilization in a population-based sample.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between depressive symptoms and future medical care utilization.
• To control for medical illness and selection bias in this relationship.
• To analyze data from a Canadian population-based sample.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Nova Scotia Health Survey 1995, involving 3227 adults.
• Employed the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale to assess depressive symptoms.
• Linked survey data with medical care utilization records for the subsequent year, including outpatient visits and hospitalizations.

Main Results:

• Increased depressive symptoms predicted higher medical care utilization in the following year.
• This association persisted even after controlling for age, sex, number of medical diagnoses, and medical severity.
• The findings remained significant after excluding mental health care utilization costs.

Conclusions:

• Depressive symptoms are a predictor of greater medical care utilization in a population-based sample.
• This relationship is independent of various medical severity indicators.
• Further research is needed to determine if depressive symptoms are a risk marker or a causal factor for increased healthcare utilization.