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Patterns of psychotherapy utilization.
K I Howard1, C V Davidson, M T O'Mahoney
1Institute of Psychiatry, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Evanston, Ill.
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|June 1, 1989
Summary
A small group of patients drives most outpatient mental health visits. This finding highlights the significant impact of long-term psychotherapy patients on clinical practice and professional perception.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry and Mental Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Epidemiologic research suggests a concentration of outpatient mental health visits among a minority of patients.
- This patient subgroup significantly influences the practice and perception within mental health professions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To confirm the disproportionate utilization of outpatient mental health services by a small patient cohort.
- To quantify the session load of long-term psychotherapy patients in a clinical setting.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 405 patient records in a clinical setting focused on long-term psychotherapy.
- Categorization of patients based on the number of psychotherapy sessions attended (≤26 vs. >26).
Main Results:
- A significant portion of patients (68%) utilized 26 or fewer psychotherapy sessions, accounting for only 23.3% of total sessions.
- A smaller group of patients (32%) attended more than 26 sessions, consuming 77% of all psychotherapy sessions.
Conclusions:
- The study validates the principle that a small minority of patients account for the majority of outpatient mental health visits.
- Long-term psychotherapy patients represent a substantial and disproportionate component of clinical practice, impacting resource allocation and professional experience.