Disparities in Offered Anxiety Treatments Among Minorities

Abstract

Purpose The primary purpose of this article was to determine if race and ethnicity played a role in if primary care physicians offered anxiety treatment in office visits by adult patients who were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder(s). Methods This study pooled data from the 2011 to 2018 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) that included adult patients with an anxiety disorder and the type of treatment offered to them. Logistic regressions were performed to examine the odds of offered anxiety treatment in office visits by non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and other race/ethnicity patients compared to office visits by non-Hispanic White patients. Results Physicians offered anxiety treatment in more than half of office visits where the patient was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Providers offered counseling or talk therapy in less than 13% of all office visits. Office visits by non-Hispanic Black patients had half the odds of being offered counseling/talk therapy ( P = .068) compared to those by non-Hispanic White patients. Conclusions These findings suggest that statistically significant differences in the offering of any anxiety treatments in office visits to minorities compared to non-Hispanic White patients do not exist; however, there are still differences in the rates of counseling/talk therapy offered in office visits by minorities versus non-minorities. Future studies may want to examine reasons for lower rates of counseling/talk therapy offered to minority and majority patients and the specific pharmacological or therapeutic treatments offered to different races.

Considering pharmacoequity when deprescribing potentially inappropriate medications

“…As clinicians and care managers attempt to reduce use of benzodiazepines, opioids, and other PIMs, they must carefully distinguish between patients who have clear indications (e.g., benzodiazepines for seizures, or opioids for cancer pain) where the potential benefits might outweigh the potential harms, and patients for whom these drug classes are not appropriate. Rather than reflecting better care, the finding that Black patients are less likely to receive PIM prescriptions may reflect the systemic underdiagnosis and undertreatment of pain, anxiety, and other chronic illnesses among Black patients and other historically marginalized populations 19–22 . Further research is needed to untangle the reasons for lower PIM prescribing rates among Black patients.…”

“…Rather than reflecting better care, the finding that Black patients are less likely to receive PIM prescriptions may reflect the systemic underdiagnosis and undertreatment of pain, anxiety, and other chronic illnesses among Black patients and other historically marginalized populations. [19][20][21][22] Further research is needed to untangle the reasons for lower PIM prescribing rates among Black patients.…”

Protecting the Minority: How Do We Protect the Minority in Times of Crisis?

“…In a recent article by Samander and Harman, the authors presented the role of ethnicity and race in anxiety treatment of adult patients who were diagnosed with anxiety disorders. 1 As a professor in a Catholic University, I have experienced counseling students who are suffering from anxiety disorder, stress, burnout, and other mental health concerns. Although minority of these college students exhibit higher levels of distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a little research on how teachers, counselors, and physicians protect these minority students in times of crisis.…”