Use of health services for major depressive episode in Finland

Background: A universal finding in psychiatric epidemiology is that only a minority of currently depressed people seek or receive treatment. Aims: To investigate the predictors of use of health care services for depression. Methods: A representative random sample of 5993 non-institutionalised Finnish individuals aged 15–75 years was interviewed in 1996. Major depressive episode during the last 12 months was assessed using the Short Form of the University of Michigan version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (the UM-CIDI Short Form). Characteristics and health service use of the 557 depressed individuals were assessed. Results: The proportion of people classified as having a major depressive episode who used any health services for their depression during the past 12 months was only 31% for men and 25% for women. Use of services was not predicted by sociodemographic factors. Longer duration, and greater severity and perceived disability predicted overall health service use for depression, but not significantly whether treatment was sought from primary or psychiatric care. Conclusion: The probability of use of health services for major depression increases with duration, severity and perceived disability related to depression. Only 59% of those suffering from even the most severe major depressive episodes use health services for depression. Use appears to be unrelated to sociodemographic factors in Finland.