Racial/ethnic differences in perceived need for mental health care and disparities in use of care among those with perceived need in 1990–1992 and 2001–2003

ABSTRACTObjectives: This study examines whether there are racial/ethnic differences in perceived need for mental health care among those with a mood and/or anxiety disorder in 1990–1992 and 2001–2003 in the US. Then among those with perceived need, we examine whether racial/ethnic disparities in use of mental health care existed in both time periods.Design: Using data from the 1990–1992 National Comorbidity Survey (NCS) and 2001–2003 National Comorbidity Survey – Replication (NCS-R), the study analyzes whether whites differed from blacks and Latinos in rates of perceived need among those with a mood and/or anxiety disorder in 1990–1992 and 2001–2003. Then among those with a disorder and perceived need, rates of mental health care use for whites are compared to black rates and Latino rates in within the 1990–1992 cohort and then within the 2001–2003 cohort.Results: There were no statistical racial/ethnic differences in perceived need in both time periods. Among those with perceived need in 1990–1992, there...