Research
Variation in prescribing for anxiety and depression: a reflection of health inequalities, cultural differences or variations in access to care?
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* Corresponding author: Elizabeth Goyder e.goyder@sheffield.ac.uk
1 School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
2 School of Geography & Geosciences, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
3 School of Computing and Management Sciences, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK
International Journal for Equity in Health 2006, 5:4 doi:10.1186/1475-9276-5-4
Published: 18 May 2006Abstract
Background
There are large variations in mental health prescribing in UK populations. However the underlying reasons for these differences, which may be related to differences in prevalence, cultural expectations or practical difficulties in access to treatment, remain uncertain.
Methods
Linear modelling was used to investigate whether population characteristics or access to primary care account for variations in mental health prescribing across 39 deprived neighbourhoods.
Results
The proportion of sampled respondents whose first language was not English and the ratio of general practitioners to population explained 61% of variation. Deprivation and mental health status were not significant predictors of prescribing in these relatively deprived communities.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that mental health prescribing, within deprived areas, as well as reflecting cultural and social differences in prescribing, may also be a proxy measure of access to care.