Depression, service need, and use in vulnerable populations

Health care reform has created opportunities for mental health nurses to develop innovative health care delivery models to provide integrated behavioral health and primary health care. A community health analysis is one method to ensure appropriate services are planned. This study examined the health care services most needed and those used by depressed and nondepressed participants (N = 231), and their satisfaction with these services. Individual and system characteristics were examined using a framework developed by Anderson and Aday. Significant differences were found between the 2 groups for predisposing characteristics, enabling characteristics, need for care, service use, and satisfaction with services. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company