Psychotherapy with the disadvantaged

General practitioner and psychotherapist referrals to a specialist psychotherapy centre

General practitioners (GPs) were surveyed by questionnaire to determine their views on the indications for specialist psychotherapy and their estimates about the number of patients they thought should be referred. GPs had good awareness of the types of treatments available. There was close agreement between referring and non-referring GPs and with specialists on the indications for treatment. Estimates about demand for services showed that those who had not referred in the previous year estimated higher rates than those who had referred. GPs and specialists show good overall agreement on level of service and the indications for its use.

Which neurotic patients are treated with psychotherapy?

Of 336 newly referred cases of neurosis 170 (51%) were offered psychotherapy. The factors associated with being offered this treatment were: a diagnosis of anxiety neurosis or phobic neurosis, not having had a history of deliberate self harm, living not more than 20 miles from the hospital, being less than 51 years of age, and being either married or single. Sex, duration of disorder, socio-economic status, employment status, a history of alcohol abuse and a family history of mental disorder had no significant bearing on whether or not patients were offered psychotherapy.