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The November, 1995 issue of Consumer Reports magazine reports of the largest survey done to query people about the treatment they received for emotional or mental distress. Approximately 7,000 subscribers of the magazine responded to the mental health questions. Of these, about 4,100 went to some combination of mental health professionals, family doctors, and support groups. Of these, 2,900 saw a mental health professional (psychologists at 37% were the most frequently seen mental health professional; psychiatrist at 22%, social workers at 14%; marriage counselors at 9%; and all others at 18%). Thirteen hundred joined self-help groups and about 1,000 saw family physicians. Respondents were for the most part highly educated, predominantly middle class, and about half were women, and a median age of 46 years. The majority were highly satisfied with the care they received, and almost all said that life became more manageable.

Important Findings Were:

• The longer people stayed in therapy, the more they improved..
• People who started out feeling the worst reported the most progress.
• Almost 3/4 of those seeking professional help went to a mental health specialist.
• People who sought help prom their family doctor tended to do well, but those who saw a mental health professional for more than six months did much better.
• People were just as satisfied and reported similar progress whether they saw a social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist. Those who saw a marriage counselor were somewhat less likely to feel they had been helped.
• Most people who went to a self-help group were very satisfied with the experience and said they got better.
• Forty -four percent of people whose emotional state was "very poor" at the start of treatment said they now feel good. Another 43% who started out "very poor" also improved significantly, though somewhat less.
• People who received only psychotherapy improved as much as those who received psychotherapy combined with medication.

Dr. Joyce Nash, PhD    (650) 329-1000