07/17/2024
Screening and Treatment
The National Institute of Health estimated 21 million American adults, or 8.4% of the adult population, have had at least one depressive episode. ¹ Depression can create barriers to management of other chronic conditions but is remarkably responsive to antidepressant therapy when patients are treated in a timely manner, attend follow-up appointments, and are referred for behavioral health services when necessary. Proper treatment of depression has been proven to effectively reduce symptoms, decrease the risk of relapse, emergency department visits, and hospitalization rates. ²
Telemedicine Reduces Barriers to Follow up
Telehealth use increased by 556% during the COVID-19 pandemic and usage specifically for mental health and substance use disorder increased 40% and declined only 4% after the pandemic4. Leveraging telemedicine for mental health may help a reluctant patient remain treatment compliant because it reduces health disparities, patient barriers and provides access to rural patients. ³
References
1 https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression
2 https://www.jmcp.org/doi/full/10.18553/jmcp.2021.27.2.223
3 Telehealth for the Treatment of Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders published by SAMHSA in 2021.