Am J Psychiatry 1987; 144:883-888
Copyright © 1987 by American Psychiatric Association
Estimated distribution of effort by providers of mental health services to U.S. adults in 1982 and 1983
DJ Knesper and DJ Pagnucco
A national sample of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and
primary care physicians responded to a survey of their professional
activities. From these data, the authors estimate that during a
representative 60-day period, 6.7% of U.S. adults visited one of these
types of professionals for a mental or emotional condition. All four groups
spent the largest portion of their time with nonpsychotic patients. Most
patients with schizophrenia, mania, or major depression were treated by
psychiatrists. Services from primary care physicians were usually provided
in the context of a concurrent physical condition. Psychologists and social
workers tended to treat the less severe mental and emotional conditions.
