June 26, 2008 |
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Combined data from 2005 and 2006 indicate that an annual average of 7.0 percent of adults aged 50 or older (an estimated 6.1 million persons) experienced SPD in the past year (Table 1). The prevalence of past year SPD varied by demographic characteristics. Among persons aged 50 or older, past year SPD was more likely among females than males (8.7 vs. 5.2 percent), and it was more likely among those with less than a high school education than those with higher levels of education. Adults aged 50 or older living in households with an annual family income of less than $20,000 were more likely than those living in households with higher family incomes to have experienced SPD in the past year. There was little difference in the rate of past year SPD between persons aged 50 or older who were retired and those who were employed. Adults aged 50 or older with no health insurance were nearly twice as likely as their counterparts with health insurance to have experienced past year SPD (12.3 vs. 6.7 percent).
Demographic Characteristic | Total Aged 50 or Older | Aged 50 to 64 | Aged 65 or Older |
---|---|---|---|
Total | 7.0% | 8.8% | 4.5% |
Gender | |||
Male | 5.2% | 6.4% | 3.1% |
Female | 8.7% | 11.1% | 5.6% |
Education | |||
< High School | 10.2% | 13.9% | 7.5% |
High School Graduate | 6.4% | 8.1% | 4.4% |
Some College | 7.6% | 10.0% | 3.3% |
College Graduate | 5.2% | 6.6% | 1.9% |
Family Income | |||
< $20,000 | 11.7% | 18.3% | 7.0% |
$20,000-$49,999 | 6.9% | 10.2% | 3.7% |
$50,000-$74,999 | 6.1% | 7.4% | 3.5% |
≥ $75,000 | 4.4% | 4.9% | 2.8% |
Current Employment | |||
Employed (Full or Part Time) | 5.9% | 6.6% | 2.3% |
Retired | 4.9% | 6.6% | 4.5% |
Health Insurance | |||
Any Health Insurance | 6.7% | 8.5% | 4.4% |
No Health Insurance | 12.3% | 11.9% | * |
Source: SAMHSA, 2005 and 2006 NSDUHs. |
Among adults aged 50 or older with past year SPD, 53.7 percent received mental health treatment in the past year, 6.2 percent did not receive treatment although they felt they needed it, and 40.1 percent did not receive treatment and did not perceive a need for it (hereafter referred to as an "unmet, unperceived treatment need") (Table 2). Rates of receiving mental health treatment in the past year and having an unmet need for mental health treatment were similar for males and females and across family income levels.7 Among adults aged 50 or older with past year SPD, those with less than a high school education were less likely than those with higher levels of education to have received mental health treatment in the past year. Persons aged 50 or older with past year SPD and less than a high school education were generally more likely than those with higher levels of education to have an unmet, unperceived treatment need. Retired persons aged 50 or older with past year SPD were more likely than their employed counterparts to have an unmet, unperceived treatment need.
Demographic Characteristic | Received Mental Health Treatment** | Did Not Receive Mental Health Treatment | |
---|---|---|---|
Perceived Need for Treatment | Did Not Perceive Need for Treatment | ||
Total | 53.7% | 6.2% | 40.1% |
Gender | |||
Male | 48.7% | 6.7% | 44.6% |
Female | 56.2% | 6.0% | 37.9% |
Education | |||
< High School | 40.7% | 5.3% | 54.0% |
High School Graduate | 51.4% | 4.7% | 43.9% |
Some College | 58.8% | 9.1% | 32.1% |
College Graduate | 67.8% | 6.2% | 25.9% |
Family Income | |||
< $20,000 | 51.0% | 4.6% | 44.4% |
$20,000-$49,999 | 53.4% | 5.7% | 41.0% |
$50,000-$74,999 | 52.7% | 9.7% | 37.6% |
≥ $75,000 | 60.1% | 7.2% | 32.6% |
Current Employment | |||
Employed (Full or Part Time) | 49.5% | 8.8% | 41.7% |
Retired | 45.4% | 2.8% | 51.8% |
Source: SAMHSA, 2005 and 2006 NSDUHs. |
Rates of past year SPD varied by detailed age group within the older adult population (Table 1). Combined data from 2005 and 2006 indicate that 8.8 percent of adults aged 50 to 64 experienced past year SPD compared with 4.5 percent of adults aged 65 or older. Within both age groups, females were more likely than males to have had past year SPD, and the rate of past year SPD generally decreased as income increased (Table 1). The rate of past year SPD generally decreased as the level of education increased among persons aged 65 or older. Among persons aged 50 to 64, the rate of past year SPD was higher among those who did not complete high school than among those with more education. Retired persons aged 65 or older were more likely than their employed counterparts to have had past year SPD, but there was no difference by employment status among persons aged 50 to 64.
Mental health treatment and unmet treatment need among adults with past year SPD also varied by detailed age groups within the population aged 50 or older. Persons aged 50 to 64 with SPD, compared with their counterparts aged 65 or older, were more likely to have received mental health treatment (57.8 vs. 41.8 percent), more likely not to have received treatment although they recognized a need for it (7.9 vs. 1.3 percent) and less likely not to have received mental health treatment and not to have recognized a need for it (34.2 vs. 56.8 percent) (Figure 1).
Past Year Mental Health Treatment and Perceived Need for Treatment | Aged 50 to 64 | Aged 65 or Older |
---|---|---|
Received Mental Health Treatment | 57.8% | 41.8% |
Did Not Receive Mental Health Treatment and Did Not Perceive Need for It | 34.2% | 56.8% |
Did Not Receive Mental Health Treatment Although Perceived Need for It | 7.9% | 1.3% |
Source: SAMHSA, 2005 and 2006 NSDUHs. |
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is an annual survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The 2005 and 2006 data used in this report are based on information obtained from 13,207 adults aged 50 or older who reported valid information on past year receipt of mental health treatment and perception of need for mental health treatment in the past year. The survey collects data by administering questionnaires to a representative sample of the population through face-to-face interviews at their place of residence. The NSDUH Report is prepared by the Office of Applied Studies (OAS), SAMHSA, and by RTI International in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. (RTI International is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute.) Information on the most recent NSDUH is available in the following publication: Office of Applied Studies. (2007). Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National findings (DHHS Publication No. SMA 07-4293, NSDUH Series H-32). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Information for earlier NSDUHs is available in the following publication: 2005 NSDUH: (DHHS Publication No. SMA 06-4194, NSDUH Series H-30) Also available online: http://oas.samhsa.gov. Because of improvements and modifications to the 2002 NSDUH, estimates from the 2002 through 2006 surveys should not be compared with estimates from the 2001 or earlier versions of the survey to examine changes over time. |
The NSDUH Report is published periodically by the Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission from SAMHSA. Additional copies of this report or other reports from the Office of Applied Studies are available online: http://oas.samhsa.gov. Citation of the source is appreciated. For questions about this report, please e-mail: shortreports@samhsa.hhs.gov.
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This page was last updated on December 30, 2008. |