Patient decision-making regarding entry into psychotherapy to treat depression

Many individuals with depression want treatment, and most believe that psychotherapy will treat symptoms of depression, yet many do not initiate care beyond their primary care physicians. This becomes critical given the low to moderate adherence rate to antidepressant medications among depressed patients treated in primary care. Many are left untreated or under-treated. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether attitudes toward psychotherapy in a population of primary care patients newly diagnosed with depression influenced the likelihood that they initiated psychotherapy. Participants were asked to complete two attitudinal questionnaires and respond to a three-month follow-up phone call regarding therapy initiation. Reported attitudes toward psychotherapy were positive. Many perceived therapy as both effective and preferred over medications. Despite positive attitudes, the rate of initiation into psychotherapy remained alarmingly low.