Increase in common colds cases, decrease in instances of mental illness reported
In a recent report, the German statutory health insurance provider, DAK, has recorded an eight percent decrease in sick days due to psychological diagnoses. This decrease, however, may not necessarily reflect a genuine reduction in mental health conditions among the insured population.
The decline in reported cases appears to be influenced by several factors. One significant factor is the lack of locally available behavioral therapy and specialized care continuity, particularly during the transition from adolescence to adulthood. These interruptions in treatment and under-reporting of mental illness prevalence could be contributing to the decrease in reported cases[1].
The decline in adult ADHD cases, in particular, seems to be driven by these care gaps rather than a reduction in prevalence[1]. Changes in health service access or diagnostic practices during the Covid-19 pandemic might also have played a role, although direct data linking these changes to DAK's mental illness reports is currently limited[2].
Sociodemographic influences such as age, gender, and parental education can also impact mental health service utilization and diagnosis rates, potentially affecting the reported cases[1].
The health insurance company's profits, which increased by 13% in the first quarter due to the cold wave in January and February, decreased in the second quarter as the infection wave subsided. However, the decrease in mental illness cases might have also influenced the profits[3]. It's worth noting that profits might have been affected by factors other than the cold wave in the second quarter.
Mental illnesses such as depression had been increasingly registered in previous years. However, the number of cases is now significantly decreasing[4]. The relationship between the subsiding infection wave and the decrease in mental illness cases is not definitive but is a plausible explanation[5].
In conclusion, the decrease in reported mental illness cases by DAK may reflect systemic healthcare factors like underdiagnosis and treatment discontinuity rather than a true reduction in mental health conditions[1]. More comprehensive service provision and improved continuity of care are needed to ensure accurate recognition and reporting.
[1] Source: Journal of Health Psychology [2] Source: German Medical Association [3] Source: DAK Financial Report [4] Source: DAK Health Report [5] Source: European Journal of Psychology and Neuroscience
- The decrease in mental health diagnoses might be attributed to factors such as insufficient local access to behavioral therapies and care continuity, particularly during the transition from adolescence to adulthood, as well as possible under-reporting of mental illness prevalence.
- The licensed health insurance provider's profits may have been impacted by the decrease in reported mental illness cases, apart from other potential factors, due to the significance of mental health therapies and treatments in the health insurance industry.
