Context: Psychotherapies are recommended in manuals of good practice. There is however little epidemiological data assessing access to this type of treatment, and in particular the combined role of the offer and socio-demographic characteristics. The present research aims to contribute data on the profiles of a sample of individuals who underwent psychotherapy in France, and on the respective impact of various factors such as mental health status, socio-demographic characteristics, life events and the care offer, focusing on a specific population for whom the mode of financial cover for this type of care is governed by a complementary health insurance (MGEN).
Methods: Between June 1999 and March 2000 a survey using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted on a sample of MGEN-insured individuals. Ten thousand individuals aged between 20 and 60 were selected randomly, received a questionnaire, and up to three recalls in case of non-response. The overall response rate was 66.5%. The questionnaire comprised 261 questions enabling data collection concerning the main socio-demographic, professional and mental health variables.
Results: In this population aged from 20 to 60, lifetime prevalence of recourse to psychotherapy was 11.8%. The main factor associated with use of psychotherapy is the severity of the clinical condition (assessed in terms of comorbidity). Certain traumatic events experienced in childhood are also related. The effect of socio-demographic variables varies according to severity, although it was noted that being female, having high educational status, and being single were consistently related to wider use of psychotherapy. The analysis also evidenced the importance of the density of the care offer.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that the use of psychotherapy, within a well-informed population with high quality insurance cover, is related primarily to clinical condition rather than to socio-demographic status, especially in people with high levels of comorbidity, although the effect of educational status remains. However, this study only looked at mere use of psychotherapy, without determining the suitability of the treatment provided. It is indeed possible, and even probable, that variables such as educational status, income, or care offer may have a link with resorting to the right type of care, in terms of both relevance and adequate duration.