|
|
|
|
|
Lisa H. Jaycox, PhD1, Joan R. Asarnow, PhD2, Cathy Sherbourne, PhD3, Margaret Rea, PhD4, Anne P. Laborde, PhD, PsyD5, and Kenneth Wells, MD3. (1) RAND Corporation, 1200 S. Hayes Street, Arlington, VA 22202, 7034131100, jaycox@rand.org, (2) UCLA, 300 Westwood Plaza, #48-256B, Los Angeles, CA 90024, (3) Health Division, RAND, 1700 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90407, (4) Department of Psychiatry, UC Davis, 2230 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95817, (5) Kaiser Permanente, 4700 Sunset Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Although efforts are underway to improve adolescent access and adherence to treatments for depression, little is known about adolescents' treatment preferences, or about factors that are associated with preference. We screened consecutive primary care patients aged 13-21. Among 444 adolescents with possible depression, we examined preference for depression treatment and how it is related to predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics thought to be related to help-seeking more generally. Twenty-two percent of adolescents said they would prefer medication, 51% said they would prefer counseling, and 26% said they would prefer watchful waiting and decide on treatment later on. Logistic regressions revealed that heightened anxiety, a diagnosis of a depressive or bipolar disorder, and parental mental health problems predicted greater odds of preferring one of the two active treatments to watchful waiting. Among those who chose active treatment, African Americans (compared to Caucasians) and those with negative attitudes about anti-depressant medications were less likely to prefer medication over counseling, and those with heightened anxiety or prior experience with mental health treatments were more likely to choose medication over counseling. We discuss these findings for adolescents in light of existing studies on adult preferences for depression treatment. These findings are expected to help guide future intervention efforts.
Learning Objectives:
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.