Mental health treatment trends show a rising preference for therapy over medication among American individuals.
Hear this, folks! It’s Scott Simon here, and I’ve got some interesting news about Americans seeking help for their mental health issues. A recent survey published in the American Journal of Psychiatry shows that more people are turning to talk therapy rather than medication. And let's dive into the nitty-gritty details, courtesy of our very own NPR's Rhitu Chatterjee.
Back in the '90s, the use of talk therapy or psychotherapy started dwindling, but that trend flipped between 2018 and 2021. The number of American adults seeking outpatient talk therapy has soared from 6.5% to 8.5%, which equals nearly 22 million people! Mark Olfson, a psychiatrist and epidemiologist at Columbia University, is one of the authors of the new study.
Now, it's important to note that many of these individuals are still using psychiatric medication like antidepressants and antipsychotic medicines alongside therapy. However, for the first time in decades, fewer people are relying only on medication, with a growing preference for a combo of medication and talk therapy.
Don't believe me? Just take a look at the numbers. Since the late '80s, medications have been taking center stage, but in recent years, we’re witnessing a shift as more people opt for a combo treatment. And guess what? People who start talk therapy are now more likely to stick with it!
Historically, people might have gone to their first session and then dropped out prematurely. But as Jessi Gold, a psychiatrist and chief wellness officer at the University of Tennessee, puts it, folks are more aware of what to expect from therapy. With mental health moving further into mainstream discourse and taboos being broken, it's no biggie to talk openly about seeking help.
But wait! There's more. The rise in outpatient talk therapy isn't just due to awareness; it's also thanks to improved accessibility thanks to telehealth. Teletherapy has become a lifesaver for many, especially those in remote locations who may have had limited access to therapists before.
Yet, despite this progress, only about half of Americans with any mental illness received any treatment in the year before. So while things are changing, there's still a long way to go. That's all from us! Keep talking, folks, and remember, it’s okay to seek help!
Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio record.
Enrichment data: The rising trend in outpatient talk therapy usage is influenced by improved teletherapy access, growing mental health awareness, and evidence-based outcomes such as short-term therapy and music therapy showing tangible benefits.
- Mark Olfson, a psychiatrist and epidemiologist at Columbia University, suggests that more Americans are turning to psychotherapy, favored over medication, as indicated by a survey published in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
- In the past few years, there has been a significant rise in the number of American adults seeking outpatient talk therapy, with the percentage increasing from 6.5% to 8.5%, which translates to nearly 22 million people.
- Surprisingly, many individuals are now combining therapies and treatments, with a growing preference for the use of both medication and talk therapy, as opposed to relying solely on medication, a trend that hasn't been seen in decades.
- According to Jessi Gold, a psychiatrist and chief wellness officer at the University of Tennessee, people are now better informed about what to expect from therapy and are more likely to stick with it, as mental health becomes more mainstream and less taboo.
- Improved accessibility to talk therapy, thanks to telehealth services, is another contributing factor to the rise in outpatient therapy, particularly for individuals in remote locations who may have been previously underserved.
