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1993.12.28 : Study of Psychiatrist Visits

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Contact: Jeff Lancashire,  301-436-7551
Sandra Smith, 301-436-7135

The "prime years" may be the most unsettling ones, according to a
new report released today by HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala,
showing that almost half of all psychiatric visits are made by
persons 25-44 years of age.

The report shows that psychiatrists are the fifth most visited
medical specialty by persons 25-44, with over 9 million visits
occurring each year for this age group.

Overall, there is an average of 18.8 million visits per year by
people of all ages to non-federally employed, office-based
physicians specializing in psychiatry.

"Mental disorders strike Americans in some of the most productive
years of their lives," Secretary Shalala said.

The report, "Office Visits to Psychiatrists: United States, 1989-
90," was prepared by the National Center for Health Statistics. 
Visits to psychiatrists are one part of the service delivery
system for mental health services.

The study examined the types of conditions that are most commonly
diagnosed during psychiatric visits.

--Mood disorders are the most frequently diagnosed condition, with
depressive disorders accounting for almost 7 million visits, or
over one-third (37 percent) of the total.

--Anxiety disorders accounted for an average of 2.5 million
visits, or 13 percent of the total.

--Personality disorders accounted for almost 2 million visits, or
10 percent of the total.

--Secondary diagnoses were recorded for more than one-third of the
visits, with personality disorders accounting for 27 percent of
all secondary diagnoses.  Depressive disorders accounted for 17
percent of all secondary diagnoses.

The study did not cover public mental health clinics and other
facilities.

"With health reform, early diagnosis and treatment should be
available to protect not only our physical well-being, but our
mental health as well," said Assistant Secretary for Health Philip
E. Lee, M.D., who is head of the Public Health Service.

The report also shows psychotherapy, provided during 90 percent of
all visits, to be the most common form of treatment undertaken by
psychiatrists.  In about half of the visits, psychotherapy was
provided along with medication therapy.

The report was prepared by Susan M. Schappert of the National
Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, a part of the Public Health Service, within HHS.