In 1958, Hollingshead and Redlich demonstrated that there were major
differences in mental health care for lower-class patients: they primarily
received low-intervention treatments from nonprofessional staff. The
authors report a follow-up study initiated by F.C. Redlich that reveals new
trends at the community mental health center (CMHC) serving the region
studied by Hollingshead and Redlich. More than half of the lower-class
patients who sought evaluation at this CMHC were discharged without a
treatment assignment. Many lower-class patients, however, gained access to
the CMHC's psychotherapy unit. Most of these patients were women, employed,
and diagnosed as psychoneurotic. The authors conclude that the effect of
social class on psychiatric care is less complete than Hollingshead and
Redlich originally demonstrated.Abstract Teaser