Disparities in Access to Mental Health Services Among Patients Hospitalized for Deliberate Drug Overdose

The authors examined patient and hospitalization characteristics associated with receiving a mental health assessment and disposition to an inpatient psychiatric facility among patients hospitalized for deliberate drug overdose.

This retrospective analysis of 2012–2013 South Carolina all-payer data included adults ages 18–64 with at least one inpatient admission for a primary diagnosis of deliberate illicit or pharmaceutical drug overdose (N=2,686). Outcomes were receipt of a mental health assessment and disposition to an inpatient psychiatric facility. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the effects of patient and hospitalization characteristics on study outcomes.

Non-Hispanic blacks and people of other races-ethnicities were less likely than non-Hispanic whites to receive a mental health assessment (non-Hispanic blacks, adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=0.52, 95% CI=0.34–0.81; other races-ethnicities, AOR=0.24, 95% CI=0.12–0.49). Non-Hispanic blacks were also less likely than non-Hispanic whites to be discharged to an inpatient psychiatric facility than to home (AOR=0.60, 95% CI=0.47–0.77). Compared with persons without insurance, those with insurance, except those with Medicaid, were more likely to be discharged to an inpatient psychiatric facility than to home (Medicare, AOR=3.06, 95% CI=2.36–3.96; private, AOR=2.78, 95% CI=2.23–3.47; other, AOR=7.58, 95% CI=4.21–13.6).

Non-Hispanic white race-ethnicity and having insurance were predictive of receipt of a mental health assessment and disposition to an inpatient psychiatric facility among patients hospitalized for deliberate drug overdose. Study findings can inform clinical strategies and interventions aimed at reducing mental health care disparities among populations who are vulnerable to overdose or suicide.