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Age and Mental Health Status Differences in Medical Service Utilization in an Integrated Primary Care Setting

Abstract This study explored age and mental health referral status effects on a variety of patient, medical, and medical service utilization variables among adults seen in a rural integrated (mental health) primary care practice. The study cohort consisted of the first 150 consecutive patients referred for brief MH service, and a comparison group of 150 general medical patients not referred for MH service, as well as 34 matched older MH patients and controls. Results showed that older medical patients had significantly more medical problems and used more prescribed medications than younger medical patients (p > .05). Older patients referred for mental health services had experienced significantly more deaths among significant others, more adverse life events, and more family caregiver responsibilities than their younger counterparts (p > .05). In contrast to medical patients, younger and older patients referred for mental health care did not differ on medical variables or service utilizations variables, except for prescribed medication. Referred elders also had more medical problems than matched older medical patients. The presence of integrated mental health services appeared to markedly reduce age and mental health status differences on most medical service variables.