Levels of depression and satisfaction with life as indicators of health services consumption

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between depression, satisfaction with life, and primary healthcare services consumption. Methods: A random sample of primary healthcare clinic patients agreed to complete self-report questionnaires on demographics and physical activity, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Visual Analog Scale for Happiness. Treating physicians completed the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS) for each patient. The relationships among psychometric, medical, the number of visits to health maintenance organization (HMO)-physicians during the previous year was assessed. Results: Positive correlation was found between visits to HMO-physicians and depression severity, as assessed by GDS (p =.049), and between visits/year and illness severity, as measured by CIRS (p <.001). Correlation was also found between depression and number of chronic medications used (p =.005). Physical activity correlated inversely with depression severity (p =.014). Gender and income had no impact on frequency of visits to HMO-physicians, depression, or satisfaction with life. Conclusions: The results indicate that there is a correlation between depression and healthcare service consumption, as represented by number of HMO-physician visits and medication use. Thus, early detection of depression, using tools such as GDS, and early initiation of antidepressive treatment may help to lower the burden on the health system.