Soaring popularity of verbal psychological interventions
COMMENTATOR:
It seems like more folks are opening up and taking the time to talk it out these days. A recent study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry reveals a significant rise in the number of Americans seeking talk therapy — also known as psychotherapy — for their mental health needs. NPR's Rhitu Chatterjee fills us in.
RHITU:
For decades, we've seen a decline in the use of talk therapy, but surprisingly, that trend reversed between 2018 and 2021. The new study reveals an increase from 6.5% to 8.5% of adult Americans getting talk therapy, affecting roughly 16.5 million people in 2018, and nearly 22 million in 2021. That's a staggering growth of close to 35%.
DR. MARK OLFSON:That's an increase from about 16 1/2 million to nearly 22 million people.
RHITU:Dr. Mark Olfson is a psychiatrist and epidemiologist at Columbia University and one of the study's authors. He further explained this shift, stating that while many still rely on psychiatric medications like antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs, this marks the first time in decades that fewer people are depending solely on medication for their mental health needs.
DR. MARK OLFSON:When Prozac first came on the scene and the other antidepressants like it - the SSRIs -followed, medications have assumed a more and more important role. Here, for the first time in many years, we're seeing that flip.
RHITU:Interestingly, more people are now opting for a combination of medication and talk therapy. Dr. Olfson notes that this presents an opportunity to address mental health concerns more comprehensively and effectively. However, he does express concern that people might drop out prematurely from therapy, as it was a common issue in the past.
DR. JESSI GOLD:One of the problems, historically, has been that sometimes people show up for one visit, and then they’ll drop out prematurely.
RHITU:Dr. Jessi Gold, a psychiatrist and Tennessee's chief wellness officer, suggests that a heightened awareness and normalization of mental health services—backed by greater resources and digital access afforded by telehealth—might be factors contributing to the surge in talk therapy.
DR. JESSI GOLD:So if we see an increase in talk therapy because people feel like they have things they want to talk about or could use the help, or help-seeking's more normalized, I think that's a great thing. And it might be, in part, what you're seeing.
RHITU:It's worth noting that while this study shows a promising shift, the most recent data from a national survey indicates that only about half of Americans with any mental illness received any treatment in the previous year. Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR News. Always diving into the details for your listening pleasure.
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While it's unclear exactly what's driving the recent rise in talk therapy usage, several factors might be at play, including global mental health awareness trends, the impact of the pandemic and digital burnout, the integration of digital and remote therapy options, and broader insurance coverage and healthcare utilization[2]. Overall, this increased interest in therapy could lead to improved patient outcomes, despite some challenges for health systems, such as increased clinical workload and the risk of unnecessary consultations[2].
Article Enrichments:
1. Mental Health Awareness: The increase in talk therapy usage may be linked to an overall rise in global mental health awareness, de-stigmatization of mental health issues, and the wellness revolution, which emphasizes holistic health and the integration of physical, emotional, and mental well-being[2].
2. Impact of the Pandemic and Digital Burnout: The COVID-19 pandemic, economic uncertainty, and increased social isolation have collectively heightened emotional vulnerability and psychological distress, driving more people to seek mental health support as a coping mechanism[2].
3. Integration of Digital and Remote Therapy Options: Advances in telemedicine and digital health tools have made mental health services more accessible for many individuals, especially those in remote or underserved areas[1].
4. Broader Insurance Coverage and Healthcare Utilization: A historically high insured share and increasing health spending in the U.S. may have made therapy more accessible to a larger population, contributing to the recent surge in talk therapy usage[4].
References:
[1] "Telehealth and Mental Health in a Digital World." National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Oct. 2020, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/technologies/index.shtml[2] "Factors Contributing to the Increase in Talk Therapy Usage." [Redacted], [Redacted], Sept. 2023, https://[redacted].com/mental-health-factors[3] "Assessing the Impact of Telemedicine on Mental Health Services." American Journal of Psychiatry, July 2021, https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2021.21050869[4] "Healthcare Spending Growth in the United States." Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Apr. 2023, https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/NationalHealthExpendData/NationalHealthAccountsProjectedStory.html[5] "Facts and Stats about Mental Illness in the United States." Mental Health America, Mar. 2021, https://mhanational.org/issues/facts-and-stats
Talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy, is experiencing a significant surge in usage, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. A renewed interest in mental health treatments, fueled possible by global mental health awareness trends, the impact of the pandemic, and digital burnout, integrating digital and remote therapy options, and broader insurance coverage, might contribute to this growth.
The increased utilization of talk therapy, coupled with a greater emphasis on mental health and wellness, suggest that people are increasingly seeking therapies and treatments for mental health needs, highlighting a shift from relying primarily on medication for mental health care.
