WHO SEEKS PSYCHOTHERAPY

Data from several large epidemiologic surveys were combined to obtain pooled estimates of the sociodemographic characteristics of people who make mental health visits. Within each sociodemographic category, the probability of making a mental health visit and the probability of su bsequently entering psychotherapy were also calculated. These surveys indicate that about two-thirds of outpatients are female, about fifty percent have had at least some college education, about fifty percent are married, nine out of ten are white, and about eighty percent are b etween the ages of 21 and 50. Females, the most educated, those who ar e divorced, separated, or never married, and whites are the most likel y to enter psychotherapy once a mental health visit has been made. Fin ally, there is some evidence presented suggesting that those who are m ost in need of mental health services (i.e., those most likely to be s uffering from a DSM-II disorder) are least likely to ever seek and rec eive such services.