Social class and psychotherapy

Abstract

Using a psychiatric case register the total psychiatric population in the Nacka region [Sweden] (75,000 inhabitants) was analyzed during a 2-yr period with regard to the use of psychotherapy in different social groups. Among the patients, the use of psychotherapy was 60% for social group I compared with 30% for social group III. The lowest social groups are overrepresented at the mental healthy unit. Among the total population, the use psychotherapy was 1.8% for social group I compared with 5.3% for social group III. Clincial fallacy, by which data from a patient population is applied to the whole population, giving wrong or restricted perspectives to the problem studied, is discussed. The selectivity of the psychiatric organization concerning soical groups may be an important factor for the so-called social class bias in psychotherapy.