Hospitalization for Depression and Bipolar in Children Common and Expensive: Study

Hospitalization costs for treating mental conditions like depression and bipolar account for nearly two billion dollars, according to study findings.

Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco's Benioff Children's Hospital for the first time conducted a study on mental health hospitalizations in children which, reportedly increased by 80 percent during 1997 and 2010.

The study involved analyzing treatment costs and frequency of diagnosis for mental issues among children in hospitals to create improvements in quality of pediatric hospital care. They used national data of inpatient records, medical bills and number of hospital discharges of patients aged between three and 20 in 2009. Experts also compared hospitalization rates in independent children's hospitals and general hospitals that treat both adults and children.

It was found that depression, bipolar disorder and psychosis are the most common mental health disorders suffered by children. The diagnosis and treatment costs for these conditions are extremely high in pediatric and general hospitals. The researchers also noted the rate of hospitalization for these mental conditions was three times higher in general hospitals that provide more inpatient psychiatric care compared to children's hospitals.

The treatment charges for depression alone accounts for $1.33 billion dollars, researchers found. Treatments and diagnosis for conditions like bi-polar disorder and psychosis cost $702 and $540 million, respectively.

Naomi Bardach, study author and assistant professor of pediatrics at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital said in a press release, "These are costly hospitalizations, and being hospitalized is a heavy burden for families and patients. Prevention and wellness is a huge part of the Affordable Care Act, along with controlling costs by delivering great care. This study helps us understand that mental health is a key priority. The long term goal is not only to improve hospital care for these kids, but also to understand how to effectively optimize mental health resources in the outpatient world."

The study was supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and National Institute for Children's Health and Human development.

More information of the research will be published in the journal Pediatrics.