This study examined the impact of symptom severity and provider characteristics on initial depression treatment decisions in a setting with fewer structural barriers, an integrated behavioral health network.

Primary Care Providers' Initial Treatment Decisions and Antidepressant Prescribing for Adolescent Depression

Ana Radovic, Coreen Farris, Kerry Reynolds, Evelyn Reis, Elizabeth Miller, Bradley D. Stein

ResearchPosted on rand.org 2013Published In: Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, v, 35, no. 1, Jan. 2014, p. 28-37

OBJECTIVE: Adolescent depression is a serious and undertreated public health problem. Nonetheless, pediatric primary care providers (PCPs) may have low rates of antidepressant prescribing due to structural and training barriers. This study examined the impact of symptom severity and provider characteristics on initial depression treatment decisions in a setting with fewer structural barriers, an integrated behavioral health network. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 58 PCPs within a large pediatric practice network. PCP reports of initial treatment decisions were compared in response to 2 vignettes describing depressed adolescents with either moderate or severe symptoms. PCP depression knowledge, attitudes toward addressing psychosocial concerns, demographics, and practice characteristics were measured. RESULTS: Few PCPs (25% for moderate, 32% for severe) recommended an antidepressant. Compared with treatment recommendations for moderate depression, severe depression was associated with a greater likelihood of child psychiatry referral (odds ratio [OR], 5.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.47-12.2] p < .001). Depression severity did not affect the likelihood of antidepressant recommendation (OR, 1.58 [95% CI, 0.80-3.11] p = .19). Antidepressants were more likely to be recommended by PCPs with greater depression knowledge (OR, 1.72 [95% CI, 1.14-2.59] p = .009) and access to an on-site mental health provider (OR, 5.13 [95% CI, 1.24-21.2] p = .02) and less likely to be recommended by PCPs who reported higher provider burden when addressing psychosocial concerns (OR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.75-0.98] p = .02). CONCLUSION: PCPs infrequently recommended antidepressants for adolescents, regardless of depression severity. Continued PCP support through experiential training, accounting for provider burden when addressing psychosocial concerns, and co-management with mental health providers may increase PCPs' antidepressant prescribing.

Key Findings

PCPs were sensitive to the severity of their depressed patients' symptoms when making treatment decisions.

  • PCPs were more likely to recommend watchful waiting for moderately depressed patients than for severely depressed patients.
  • Compared to recommendations for moderately depressed patients, PCPs were more likely to refer severely depressed patients to a child psychiatrist.
  • Nearly all PCPs recommended a therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy for depressed adolescent patients, regardless of severity.
  • Only one-quarter of PCPs indicated that they would prescribe an antidepressant, and this rate did not increase significantly for severely depressed adolescents.
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Document Details

  • Copyright: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
  • Availability: Non-RAND
  • Year: 2014
  • Pages: 10
  • Document Number: EP-50430

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