Relationships between serious psychological distress and the use of health services in the United States: findings from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

OBJECTIVE: To determine rates of access to and use of health services among adults with Serious Psychological Distress (SPD).

METHODS: Adults > or = 18 years in the 2007 BRFSS were stratified based on the presence of SPD, assessed by scores > or = 13 using the Kessler-6 tool (N = 199,209). Access to and use of general and mental health services were compared for those with scores < 13 and those > or = 13 using Chi-square analyses and logistic regression models.

RESULTS: Less than half of all adults with SPD indicated receiving mental health treatment. Persons < 65 years and having SPD were significantly less likely to have access to any type of health insurance (0.59 O.R., 0.51-0.68 95% C.I.) compared to persons <65 years without SPD.

CONCLUSIONS: These results present a situation which could potentially lead to increased use of emergency departments for possible non-emergent services. Less than half of adults with SPD were receiving mental health treatment and most, regardless of their SPD score, were receiving routine health checkups; presenting an opportunity to identify and treat many mental health issues in the primary care setting.