Depression: Major Depression & Unipolar Varieties
Resources
Basic Information
Introduction and Types of DepressionRelated Disorders / ConditionsHistorical and Current UnderstandingsBiology, Psychology and SociologyTreatment - Medication and PsychotherapyAlternative Medicine and Self-Help ResourcesSpecial IssuesReferences
More InformationTestsLatest News
Depression in Women Tied to Diabetes, Cardiac Risk FactorsDay Care May Help Kids of Depressed MomsSibling Bullying Can Lead to Depression, Anxiety in VictimsDepression, Antidepressant Use Linked to Future CVD RiskDepression Common in Those With PTSD, Study FindsTalk Therapy Can Ease Depression, But No Single Type Deemed 'Best'A Strong Marriage Can Shield Kids From Dad's Depression: StudyDepression Linked to Severe Hypoglycemia in DiabetesHaving Both Migraines, Depression May Mean Smaller BrainDepression May Raise Low Blood Sugar Risk in DiabeticsGenes May Boost Woman's Risk of Postpartum DepressionReview: Exercise Indeed Beneficial for Major DepressionAdult Children of Substance Abusers More Prone to DepressionDepression May Boost Stroke Risk in Middle-Aged Women, TooAnti-Gay Bullying Tied to Teen Depression, SuicideDaily Gene Rhythms May Be Off in Depressed PeopleDepression Overdiagnosed, Overtreated in the CommunitySome Antidepressants May Raise Risk for Gastro InfectionAntidepressants May Hasten Bypass Recovery, Study FindsSome Antidepressants Linked to Bleeding Risk With SurgeryFish Oil Has No Effect on Depression in PregnancyFormer College Athletes Don't Have Increased Depression RiskCollege Sports Could Raise Players' Risk for Depression, Study FindsAnother Danger of Depression?Study: Antidepressant Use in Pregnancy May Not Affect Baby's GrowthAnxiety, Depression May Triple Risk of Death for Heart Patients: StudyAbout 14 Percent of Moms Face Postpartum DepressionChildhood Depression May Be Tied to Later Heart Risk: StudySmall Benefit of Adjunctive Antipsychotics for DepressionVision Loss, Depression May Be Linked, Study FindsImproving Eating Habits Cuts Depression in DementiaHealth Tip: When Grief Becomes DepressionLow-Intensity Interventions Beneficial in Severe DepressionDepressed Patients May Gain From Self-Help Books, WebsitesDepression Affects Efficacy of Herpes Zoster VaccineExercise May Stave Off Depression in Severely ObeseMilitary Women Exposed to Combat After Childbirth Face DepressionUntreated Depression May Cut Shingles Vaccine EffectivenessECT + SSRI Better for Major Depression Than Either AloneMaternal Depression, Violence at Home May Raise Child's ADHD RiskElectrical Brain Stimulation Plus Drug Fights Depression: StudyAntidepressants Celexa, Lexapro Tied to Irregular Heartbeat: StudyHealth Tip: Avoid the Winter BluesJaw Pain Disorder Tied to Anxiety, DepressionDepressive Symptoms Tied to Doubled Risk for Crohn'sDepressed Stroke Survivors May Face Higher Early Death RiskHealth Tip: You May Have Seasonal Affective DisorderDiet Drinks Tied to Depression Risk in Older Adults: StudyData Suggest Depression Doesn't Precede Impaired CognitionDementia, Late-Life Depression May Be Linked
Questions and AnswersLinksBook Reviews
Related Topics

Anxiety Disorders
Bipolar Disorder
Suicide
Addictions: Alcohol and Substance Abuse
Pain Management

Medicare Coverage Gap May Cause Seniors to Forgo Antidepressants

HealthDay News
by -- Randy Dotinga
Updated: Jul 2nd 2012

 

new article illustration

MONDAY, July 2 (HealthDay News) -- The Medicare Part D drug plan's gap in coverage -- often referred to as the "donut hole" -- has long been a concern, and a new study links it to cutbacks by seniors in the use of antidepressants and other medications.

An estimated 13 percent of seniors aged 65 and older suffer from depression, experts say. Antidepressants can stop depression from returning, but the Part D benefit -- especially the coverage gap -- "imposes a serious risk for discontinuing maintenance antidepressant pharmacotherapy among senior beneficiaries," the study authors found.

The study, published in the July issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, also found less use of drugs prescribed to treat heart failure and diabetes among seniors who fell into the coverage gap.

While the 2010 Affordable Care Act is shrinking the "donut hole," it won't be fully closed until 2020.

In the study, researchers led by Yuting Zhang of the University of Pittsburgh looked at a random sample of more than 65,000 Medicare recipients aged 65 or older who were enrolled in stand-alone Part D plans in 2007.

During that year, seniors who reached a total of $2,400 in spending on prescription drugs lost further drug coverage until they reached the amount required for catastrophic care coverage ($3,850 in 2007) -- the coverage gap nicknamed the "donut hole."

Those who fell into the gap used fewer antidepressants, heart failure drugs and diabetes medications, the researchers found. Compared to other Medicare recipients who didn't fall into the gap (due to factors such as low-income subsidies), those who didn't have coverage took about 12 percent fewer monthly antidepressant prescriptions, about 13 percent fewer heart failure drugs and 13.4 percent fewer diabetes medications.

Discontinuing medications due to cost concerns could have long-term implications for depressed patients, the researchers noted in a journal news release.

"If patients discontinue their appropriate medication therapy abruptly, they could be placing themselves at risk for medication withdrawal effects and for relapse or recurrence," Zhang and colleagues wrote. "If they do not notice any effects, they might decide not to resume taking antidepressants. Thus, a gap in drug coverage could place older adults in harm's way, as a result of disruptions in appropriate maintenance antidepressant pharmacotherapy."

More information

Find out more about depression at the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

This article: Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.