Barriers to Mental Health Treatment in Rural Older Adults
Barriers to Mental Health Treatment in Rural Older Adults
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DOI：
10.1016/j.jagp.2015.06.002
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发表时间：
2015-11-01
影响因子：
7.2
通讯作者：
Miller, Michael E.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Brenes, Gretchen A.;Danhauer, Suzanne C.;Miller, Michael E.
目的：本研究的目的是确定农村老年人寻求心理健康治疗的障碍。我们还研究了障碍是否因年龄和担忧严重程度而异。方法：参与者是478名农村老年人回应传单的心理治疗干预研究。通过电话对感兴趣的参与者进行了筛选，并对心理健康治疗的障碍进行了评估。参与者完成了一份人口统计调查问卷和宾州州立大学焦虑量表。结果：最常报告的治疗障碍是个人信念，“我不应该需要帮助。“其他常见的障碍包括实际障碍（费用，不知道去哪里，距离），对心理健康提供者的不信任，不认为治疗会有帮助，耻辱，不想与陌生人谈论私事。多变量分析表明，担心的严重程度和年轻的年龄与报告更多的障碍。结论：多种障碍干扰老年人寻求治疗焦虑和抑郁。年龄越大，障碍越少，这表明年龄最大的老人可能已经找到了克服这些障碍的策略。年轻的老年人可能会受益于干预措施，解决个人对心理健康和替代服务提供方法的信念。
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the barriers to seeking mental health treatment experienced by rural older adults. We also examined if barriers differed by age and worry severity. Methods: Participants were 478 rural older adults responding to a flyer for a psychotherapy intervention study. Interested participants were screened by telephone, and barriers to mental health treatment were assessed. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire-Abbreviated. Results: The most commonly reported barrier to treatment was the personal belief that "I should not need help." Other commonly reported barriers included practical barriers (cost, not knowing where to go, distance), mistrust of mental health providers, not thinking treatment would help, stigma, and not wanting to talk with a stranger about private matters. Multivariable analyses indicated that worry severity and younger age were associated with reporting more barriers. Conclusions: Multiple barriers interfere with older adults seeking treatment for anxiety and depression. Older age is associated with fewer barriers, suggesting that the oldest old may have found strategies for overcoming these barriers. Young-old adults may benefit from interventions addressing personal beliefs about mental health and alternative methods of service delivery.