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Large majorities of those who were treated with therapy and with medication satisfied with their care
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – March 21, 2005 – A national survey of the general
adult population and of adults who have needed or received some form of
mental health treatment find that more than a quarter (27%) of all
adults have received some form of mental health treatment over a
two-year period.
Among those patients who have received treatment in the past two years:
- Approximately one-third (34%) received both therapy and drugs.
- Approximately half (47%) of patients used prescription drugs but did not receive therapy.
- Approximately one-fifth (19%) of patients received therapy but did not use prescription drugs.
A modest majority of those who received treatment were extremely (15%)
or very (39%) satisfied with their care, with a much larger share (85%)
at least somewhat satisfied. There was little difference in levels of
satisfaction among patients who received drugs and therapy, therapy
only, or drugs only.
These are some of the findings from research conducted both online and
by telephone by Harris Interactive? for PacifiCare Behavioral Health
and Psychology Today.
Respondents are classified as having "needed treatment" if they:
- Meet criteria for need as determined by the Life Status
Questionnaire (LSQ), a clinically validated instrument used by
PacifiCare Behavioral Health* OR
- Feel that they have needed treatment AND have talked to a primary care doctor about personal, emotional, or mental health problems.
Respondents are classified as having "received treatment" if they:
- Have seen a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, or marital and family therapist OR
- Have taken a prescription medication for a personal, emotional, or mental health problem.
Based on these definitions, the research found that:
- Almost one-third of adults (30%) needed mental health treatment over a two-year period.
- Just over a quarter of adults (27%) received mental health treatment over the two-year period.
However, not all of the people who received treatment needed it
(using our definition of need), and not everyone who needed treatment
received it. Specifically,
Of the 30 percent who needed mental health treatment, almost two-thirds
(63% or 19% of all adults) received it and more than one-third (37% or
11% of all adults) did not.
Of the 70 percent who did not need mental health treatment, more than
one out of 10 (11% or 8% of all adults) received it anyway.
A downloadable PDF of the Harris Interactive Health Care News can be found at: http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/newsletters_healthcare.asp.
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Methodology
Harris Interactive? conducted online and telephone surveys in the U.S.
between February 16 and March 5, 2004. The telephone study was
conducted among a nationwide cross section of 500 adults aged 18 and
over. The online survey was conducted among 1,730 adults who have
needed and/or received treatment for a mental health problem within the
past two years. For both surveys, figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity,
education, income and region were weighted where necessary to align
with population proportions. For the telephone survey, data were also
weighted for the number of voice/telephone lines in the household. For
the online survey, propensity score weighting was also used to adjust
for respondents’ propensity to be online.
In theory, with probability samples of this size, one could say with 95
percent certainty that the results from the telephone survey have a
sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points and sampling error
for the online survey results is plus or minus 2 percentage points.
Sampling error for sub-sample results is higher and varies.
Unfortunately, there are several other possible sources of error in all
polls or surveys that are probably more serious than theoretical
calculations of sampling error. They include refusals to be interviewed
(nonresponse), question wording and question order, interviewer bias,
weighting by demographic control data and screening (e.g., for likely
voters). It is impossible to quantify the errors that may result from
these factors. The online sample was not a probability sample.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
About Harris Interactive?
Harris Interactive Inc. (www.harrisinteractive.com),
the 15th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world,
is a Rochester, N.Y.-based global research company that blends premier
strategic consulting with innovative and efficient methods of
investigation, analysis and application. Known for The Harris Poll? and
for pioneering Internet-based research methods, Harris Interactive
conducts proprietary and public research to help its clients achieve
clear, material and enduring results.
Harris Interactive combines its intellectual capital, databases and
technology to advance market leadership through U.S. offices and wholly
owned subsidiaries: London-based HI Europe (www.hieurope.com), Paris-based Novatris (www.novatris.com),
Tokyo-based Harris Interactive Japan, through newly acquired
WirthlinWorldwide, a Reston, Virginia-based research and consultancy
firm ranked 25th largest in the world, and through an independent
global network of affiliate market research companies. EOE M/F/D/V.
To become a member of the Harris Poll OnlineSM and be invited to participate in future online surveys, visit www.harrispollonline.com.
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