A growing number of children diagnosed with major depressive disorder are receiving psychotherapy and prescription treatment, according to a report from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
The May report, which examines trends in the diagnosis and treatment of major depressive disorder among children, is based on the medical claims of more than 1 million BCBS members with major depressive disorder between the ages of 6 and 17.
Here are five things to know from the report:
- The prevalence of MDD among children aged 15-17 rose from 3% in 2019 to 6% in 2022. MDD remains rare among children aged 6-10, with rates staying steady at 0.3% from 2019 to 2022.
- There were racial disparities in diagnosis rates among children. White children were more likely to be diagnosed with major depressive disorder than their Black, Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander peers. More socially vulnerable youth are less likely to be diagnosed with MDD overall but more likely to be diagnosed in a crisis setting than the least socially vulnerable children.
- Around 40% of MDD cases are diagnosed by primary care providers, and around 45% are diagnosed by behavioral health specialists.
- The number of children receiving psychotherapy and prescription treatments after being diagnosed with MDD has increased from 2019 to 2022. White children were more likely to receive psychotherapy and prescription treatment than Black, Hispanic and Asian and Pacific Islander children.
- Face-to-face psychotherapy is still the most common form of therapy for children, but rates of telehealth use are steadily increasing.
Read the full report here.
