More rapid use of psychotherapy is observed in some socioeconomically advantaged groups

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2024 (HealthDay News) — More rapid increases in psychotherapy use are being seen in several socioeconomically advantaged groups, according to a study published online Dec. 4 JAMA Psychiatry.

Mark Olfson, MD, MPH, of Columbia University in New York City, and colleagues characterized current trends and patterns in outpatient psychotherapy use by adults in the United States 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 among women than among men, among younger than among older adults, among college graduates versus those without a high school diploma, and among privately insured versus publicly insured adults , who were two to four times the poverty line versus below the poverty line, employed versus unemployed adults, and urban versus rural residents. Teletherapy use was significantly higher in 2021 among younger adults compared to middle-aged or older adults (18 to 34 years vs. 35 to 64 years and 65 years and older; differences -3.7 and -6.5 percentage points, respectively). , in women than in men (difference). , 1.9 percentage points), unmarried versus married people (difference 2.9 percentage points), people with a university degree versus people without a university degree (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 with urban versus rural residence (difference, 2 .7 percentage points) after controlling for stress levels.

“Because a significant portion of adult outpatient psychotherapy is now delivered over the Internet, removing technical and financial barriers to connecting underserved groups with teletherapy may help achieve equitable access to psychotherapy,” the authors write.

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