Depression is one of the seven illnesses included in an international comparison of how nations treat chronic conditions. Authors report that the United States stands out for "gaps in coverage, and for high cost sharing even for patients with insurance" with more people suffering complex chronic health problems despite spending twice as much on health care ($7,000 per person versus $3,500 per person). Cost figured into the decision of more than half the American respondents not to seek care, and access influenced getting treatment in emergency rooms. On the list of chronic conditions are two -- heart disease and diabetes -- common to people taking medication for a mental illness and major causes of a shorter life expectancy.
The Commonwealth Fund survey appeared on-line in Health Affairs.
