PRESENTING COMPLAINTS OF APPLICANTS FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL-SERVICES

Serial applications (N= 500) for service at a psychological clinic wer e classified on the basis of the presenting complaints to examine the nature of presenting complaints and the hypothesis of a relationship b etween complaints and demographic characteristics, especially gender. Such complaints proved to be highly varied, and most were unrelated to demographic variables, including gender. The relation of 5 of the 20 complaints to gender could support the theory that men are more vulner able to performance pressures and women more subject to conflicts abou t dependency, perhaps for reasons related to differing social roles an d expectations. The ''pain potential'' and ''motivation potential'' of complaints were assessed; contrary to expectations, neither anxiety n or depression in themselves appeared to be strong motivators for seeki ng psychotherapy.