Faster Psychotherapy Use Seen in Some Socioeconomically Advantaged Groups
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2024 -- Faster increases in psychotherapy use are seen across several socioeconomically advantaged groups, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Mark Olfson, M.D., M.P.H., from Columbia University in New York City, and colleagues characterized recent trends and patterns in outpatient psychotherapy use by U.S. adults in a repeated cross-sectional study based on the 2018 to 2021 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys. The analysis included 89,619 participants.
The researchers found that from 2018 to 2021, psychotherapy use increased significantly faster for women than men, younger than older adults, college graduates versus those without a high school diploma, privately insured versus publicly insured adults, those at two to four times the poverty level versus below the poverty level, employed versus unemployed adults, and urban versus rural residents. Teletherapy use in 2021 was significantly higher among younger versus middle-aged or older adults (18 to 34 years versus 35 to 64 years and 65 years and older; differences, −3.7 and −6.5 percentage points, respectively), women than men (difference, 1.9 percentage points), nonmarried versus married persons (difference, 2.9 percentage points), those who are college educated versus those without a high school diploma (difference, 4.9 percentage points), those with higher versus lower income (2.3 percentage points for 400 versus <100 percent of the federal poverty level), those with private versus public insurance (difference, −2.5 percentage points), and those of urban versus rural residence (difference, 2.7 percentage points) after controlling for distress level.
"Because a considerable proportion of adult outpatient psychotherapy is now delivered via the internet, addressing technical and financial barriers to connect underserved groups with teletherapy may help achieve equity in psychotherapy access," the authors write.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted December 2024
Read this next
Mental Health, Neurodevelopmental Diagnoses in Publicly Insured Children on the Rise
WEDNESDAY, April 30, 2025 -- The percentage of publicly insured children receiving any mental health or neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosis significantly increased between 2010...
Risky Health Behaviors Tied to Poorer Mental Well-Being, General Health in Midlife
MONDAY, April 28, 2025 -- Risky health behaviors, both current and cumulatively over time, are associated with poorer mental well-being and self-reported health, according to a...
Burnout Still High for Veterans Health Administration Health Care Workers
MONDAY, April 28, 2025 -- Burnout remains above prepandemic levels for health care workers at the U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA), according to a study published online...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.