The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #72511

George J Unick, MSW, MA, School of Social Welfare, University of California Berkeley, 776 Oak Stret, San Francisco, CA 94117, 415-206-5213, junick@uclink4.berkeley.edu and Lonnie Snowden, PhD, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, 120 Haviland Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-7400.

The National Comorbidity Survey (NCS) suggests less than half of individuals with a diagnosable mental illness seek treatment. Reasons for this underutilization vary, but one explanation, examined here, is that some individuals self-medicate rather than seek professional treatment for mental illness. However, self-medicating individuals may do so in addition to seeking other services. A sub-sample of individuals with mental health diagnoses (N=2861) was selected from the NCS. Self-medication was defined as responding "yes" to having treated any mental health symptoms by alcohol, non-prescriptions drugs or prescription medication not prescribed by a physician. To test association with self-medication, service use, demographic and diagnostic variables were included in a logistic regression. Self-medication predicted the use of specialty mental health service and substance abuse treatment, but self-medication did not have a significant relationship to medical service use, non-professional providers or self-help groups. Severe symptoms and multiple mental health diagnoses were associated with self-medication. Also, self-medicating individuals were more likely to have a diagnosis of depression, dysthymia, or alcohol or drug dependence. After controlling for the above, no relationship was found between comorbidity and self-medication. These data suggest that individuals who self-medicate were more likely to seek specialized mental health treatment and were characterized by severe symptoms and multiple diagnoses. However, there is no evidence to suggest that self-medication is an explanation for the underutilization of mental health services; in fact the opposite was found. No relationship was found with seeking mental health treatment from non-psychiatric medical providers, non-professional providers or self-help groups.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize that adults who self medicate their mental health symptoms with drugs or alcohol are more likely to also seek out specialty mental health services.

Keywords: Co-morbid, Mental Health Services

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.