About 46.6 million Americans have mental illnesses, yet profound treatment gaps exist in this country. Among those receiving treatment, most are treated solely with medication, even though >50% prefer to include psychotherapy in treatment. Other countries have changed policies to enhance access to evidence-based psychotherapy, resulting in availability and utilization reflective of patient preferences. To improve access to these treatments, the U.S. health care system would need to seek agreement among stakeholders regarding what constitutes effective treatment; enhance training, credentialing, and continuing education requirements; implement quality measures; integrate services into nontraditional venues; and incentivize best practices.
Keywords: Access to care; Psychosocial treatment; Psychotherapy; Public policy issues.