Percent of adults diagnosed with a new episode of depression and initiated on an antidepressant drug who remained on an antidepressant medication through the continuation phase of treatment

Measure Source

NCQA Health Plan Employer Data Information Set (HEDIS) measure.

Table

1.81 Adults diagnosed with a new episode of depression and initiated on an antidepressant drug who remained on an antidepressant medication through the continuation phase of treatment, United States, 2001 and 2004.

Data Source

NCQA, HEDIS data.

Denominator

U.S. enrollees of Medicaid, Medicare or commercial health plans, age 18 and over, with a pharmacy benefit, diagnosed with a new episode of major depression (ICD-9-CM codes 296.2, 296.3, 298.0, 300.4, 309.1, 311) and initiated on an antidepressant drug.

Numerator

Subset of the denominator receiving antidepressant medication and remaining on medication throughout the continuation treatment phase (6 months following initial diagnosis).

Comments

A new episode is defined as no prior diagnosis of depression of any magnitude (ICD-9-CM codes 296.2-296.9, 298.0, 300.4, 309.0, 309.1, 309.28, 311) within 120 days of the first episode occurring during the study year.

Refer to HEDIS technical specifications for a more thorough discussion of measure requirements.

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Deaths due to suicide per 100,000 population. Percent of adults diagnosed with a new episode of depression and initiated on an antidepressant drug who received a continuous trial of medication treatment during the acute treatment phase.