Talk Therapy Is Up, and Use of Psych Meds Without Therapy is Down

A new study in the American Journal of Psychiatry finds more U.S. adults are receiving talk therapy, while use of psychiatric medications alone is declining—a reversal of decades-long trends. Between 2018 and 2021, the number of adults receiving therapy rose from 16.5 to 22 million. Telehealth expansion and broader acceptance of therapy contributed to the shift, with licensed counselors and social workers increasingly providing care.

Encouragingly, patients are also sticking with therapy longer. However, access remains inequitable—primarily benefiting affluent, urban, and insured individuals. Researchers urge greater efforts to expand affordable, accessible mental health care for underserved populations. Read more from NPR here.