Medical Debt Delays Care for Those With Depression, Anxiety

Medscape July 26, 2024
Edited by Eve Bender

TOPLINE:

Medical debt significantly affects US adults with depression and anxiety, with over 27% delaying or forgoing mental health care. Those burdened with medical debt are twice as likely to delay or skip care compared with those without debt.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers analyzed 2022 data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a cross-sectional, nationally representative survey of the civilian, noninstitutionalized US adult population.
• A total of 27,515 adults were included in the analysis, with data on lifetime and current depression and anxiety, as well as medical debt.
• Lifetime depression was measured by asking participants if they had ever been diagnosed with any type of depression, including major depressive disorder, bipolar depression, dysthymia, postpartum depression, and seasonal affective disorder.
• Lifetime...

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