OBJECTIVE: TO examine whether there was a difference in the prescribing of
selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and non-SSRI antidepressant
s to Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patients in primary care.
METHODS: Twenty-seven family practice and internal medicine resident physic
ians and 407 of their Hispanic and non-Hispanic white who were fluent in En
glish or Spanish participated in the study. The medical records of all pati
ents were reviewed and information about patient diagnoses and antidepressa
nt prescriptions was abstracted. Logistic regression was used to-examine wh
ether Hispanic ethnicity influenced physician prescribing of SSRI and non-S
SRI antidepressants while controlling for other patient characteristics and
diagnoses. For patients with a diagnosis of depression, logistic regressio
n:was used to:examine whether Hispanic ethnicity influenced whether patient
s received antidepressant treatment while controlling for Other patient cha
racteristics.
RESULTS: Twenty-seven percent of patients received a prescription for one o
r more antidepressants. Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patients were equal
ly likely to be prescribed SSRI and non-SSRI antidepressant medications. Ha
ving a diagnosis of depression and having a diagnosis of chronic pain was s
ignificantly correlated with the prescribing of a non-SSRI antidepressant (
p < 0.001; p < 0.01, respectively). Having a diagnosis of depression was si
gnificantly correlated with the prescribing of an SSRI antidepressant (p <
0.001). Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patients with a diagnosis of depres
sion were equally likely to be prescribed antidepressant treatment. Patient
s with a diagnosis of depression in the general medicine clinic were signif
icantly less likely to receive antidepressant therapy than patients in the
family practice clinic.,
CONCLUSIONS: Hispanic ethnicity did not influence antidepressant prescribin
g. Future research in other settings is needed to:further determine whether
Hispanic ethnicity influences antidepressant prescribing.