MENTAL-HEALTH-SERVICES AND THE MORTALITY OF NURSING-HOME RESIDENTS

This article examines the impact of mental health services on the mort ality rate for mentally ill nursing home residents. Previous research has documented the unmet need for mental health services among nursing home residents. Some research using small data sets has indicated pat ient benefits from treatment. This article examines the issue using da ta from the nationally representative National Nursing Home Survey. In a series of multivariate logistic regressions, treatment for mental i llness provided by either general practice physicians or by mental hea lth specialists appears to have few impacts on mortality. A statistica lly significant treatment effect is found only for residents with schi zophrenia, other psychoses, or anxiety disorders when treated by menta l health specialists. The results are discussed with reference to ongo ing reforms for mental health care in nursing homes.