Questions of supply and demand in dynamic psychotherapy

Out-patient psychotherapy resources are severely limited in the face of a considerable mental health problem in the community. A review is made of the literature pertinent to the attempt to estimate the number of patients who receive, or might benefit from receiving, dynamic psychotherapy in the National Health Service. Among the many variables involved, problems of definition and the interests and opinions of general practitioners and hospital psychiatrists are prominent. Implications for the planning of psychotherapy training and service programmes are discussed.