USC Schaeffer Center, IVI to Research Disparities in Children Diagnosed With MDD

The Innovation and Value Initiative (IVI), a nonprofit research organization committed to advancing the science, practice, and use of value assessment in health care, today announced a collaboration with the University of Southern California Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics to examine treatment patterns and disparities for children and young adults newly diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD).

In the United States, an estimated 17% of adolescents experienced at least 1 episode of major depression in the past year, and the rate among members of marginalized populations is believed to be significantly higher. The symptoms of childhood and adolescence depression can include academic decline, withdrawal, unexpected crying, weight changes, and thoughts or actions of self-harm. All too often, depression goes undiagnosed and untreated in this vulnerable population.

Bringing together health policy experts and a seasoned health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) team, this partnership will focus on:

• Identifying the effectiveness of interventions and policies designed to improve access to and outcomes of care for people living with MDD; and
• Analyzing treatment patterns and outcomes for children and young adults following diagnosis of MDD to identify potential gaps and disparities.

“The USC Schaeffer Center partnership provides a meaningful opportunity to learn how COVID-19 and the broader access to telehealth services has affected health care outcomes and disparities,” noted Rick Chapman, PhD, chief science officer at IVI. “Our goal is to close the gaps and better inform health care outcomes for children and adolescents with major depressive disorder.”