Changes in pediatric service utilization for depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic

Evaluation of service utilization for common mental health disorders among pediatric population during the COVID-19 pandemic may help identify potential barriers to service use among different groups. This study investigates the utilization of health care services for depression and anxiety among 3-17-year-olds before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The monthly cases of depression and anxiety disorders in 2019 and 2020 were identified using Medicaid claims data from the largest care management organization serving Georgia, US. Service utilization rates were compared between pre-COVID and during/post-COVID using negative binomial regression in an interrupted time series study design. Subgroup analyses were done by age group, gender, and government benefits program participation status. The average monthly encounters per 1,000 beneficiaries for depression and anxiety disorders decreased by 13.2% and 4.4% during the pandemic. There were statistically significant reductions in month-to-month service utilization for both depression and anxiety in the post-pandemic period across subgroups. Utilization of pediatric health care services for anxiety and depression of the population studied decreased during the pandemic. This may have led to an increase in mental health conditions post pandemic.