Stigma Predicts Treatment Preferences and Care Engagement Among Veterans Affairs Primary Care Patients with Depression
Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Whereas stigma regarding mental health concerns exists, the evidence for stigma as a depression treatment barrier among patients in Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care (PC) is mixed. PURPOSE: This study tests whether stigma, defined as depression label avoidance, predicted patients' preferences for depression treatment providers, patients' prospective engagement in depression care, and care quality. METHODS: We conducted cross-sectional and prospective analyses of existing data from 761 VA PC patients with probable major depression. RESULTS: Relative to low-stigma patients, those with high stigma were less likely to prefer treatment from mental health specialists. In prospective controlled analyses, high stigma predicted lower likelihood of the following: taking medications for mood, treatment by mental health specialists, treatment for emotional concerns in PC, and appropriate depression care. CONCLUSIONS: High stigma is associated with lower preferences for care from mental health specialists and confers risk for minimal depression treatment engagement.
Source: Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Institutions: University of Montana, University of Washington, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Washington State University Vancouver, Center for the Study of Healthcare Provider Behavior, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, University of Michigan, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Michigan Medicine, VA Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor VA Medical Center, Institute for Social Research, Eastern Michigan University, RAND Corporation, University of California, Los Angeles
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2292662203