Racial Disparities in the Diagnosis of Depression Within a Hospitalized Geriatric Population in New York State
"Projections suggest that by 2020 depression will become the second leading cause of disease worldwide. The high prevalence of the disease and its associated morbidity and economic burden are major public health concerns. Racial and ethnic disparities in access and receipt of appropriate mental health care have been documented in the United States. The Capstone team explored this issue by focusing on disparities in the diagnosis of depression among older adults hospitalized in New York State. This study will contribute to the literature on mental health disparities, as well as fill a gap in knowledge regarding the elderly. The development of sound health policy models that integrate mental health care into physical health services requires examining the status quo of the mental health care that older adults receive. Identifying the existence of disparities would allow for a more effective approach to reconceptualizing and improving integrated health care for the elderly in a hospital setting. "