QuickStats: Percentage* of Mental Illness–Related† Physician Office Visits by Persons Aged ≥18 Years, by Physician Specialty§ and Region¶ — United States, 2012

Weekly

October 2, 2015 / 64(38);1094-1094

The figure above is a bar chart showing that in 2012, about one half (52.6%) of mental health-related doctor visits made by adults were to psychiatrists, 34.9% to primary care physicians, and 12.6% to other physicians. In the Northeast, mental health-related visits were more frequently made to psychiatrists (63.6%) compared with primary care physicians (25.7%), whereas in other regions of the country the differences were not significant. The percentage of visits to other physicians was significantly lower compared with psychiatrists and compared with primary care physicians in all regions.

* With 95% confidence intervals.

† A mental health visit was defined by the presence of at least one of the following primary listed reasons for visit classifications: symptoms referable to psychological and mental disorders (1100–1199) and mental disorders (2300–2349). A reason for visit is defined by a patient's complaint(s), symptom(s), or other reason(s) for the visit, and up to three can be indicated for each visit.

§ Other includes visits to all other combined physician specialties.

¶ Estimate for visits to other physicians in the Northeast does not meet standards of reliability and precision because relative standard error >0.30.

In 2012, about one half (52.6%) of mental health–related doctor visits made by adults were to psychiatrists, 34.9% to primary care physicians, and 12.6% to other physicians. In the Northeast, mental health–related visits were more frequently made to psychiatrists (63.6%) compared with primary care physicians (25.7%), whereas in other regions of the country the differences were not significant. The percentage of visits to other physicians was significantly lower compared with psychiatrists and compared with primary care physicians in all regions.

Source: National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data, available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/ahcd/ahcd_questionnaires.htm.

Reported by: Donald Cherry, MS, 301-458-4782, dcherry@cdc.gov; Linda McCaig, MPH; Michael Albert, MD.

Alternate Text: The figure above is a bar chart showing that in 2012, about one half (52.6%) of mental health-related doctor visits made by adults were to psychiatrists, 34.9% to primary care physicians, and 12.6% to other physicians. In the Northeast, mental health-related visits were more frequently made to psychiatrists (63.6%) compared with primary care physicians (25.7%), whereas in other regions of the country the differences were not significant. The percentage of visits to other physicians was significantly lower compared with psychiatrists and compared with primary care physicians in all regions.