Quantifying age-related disparities in outpatient psychotherapy utilization: a representation quotient analysis of routine data from 29 university clinics in Germany.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although mental disorders are highly prevalent among older adults, evidence suggests that they underutilize psychotherapy. However, formal estimates of their actual representation in routine clinical settings are scarce. This study applied a representation quotient approach to identify and quantify age-related disparities in outpatient psychotherapy utilization in Germany.

Methods

We analyzed data from 13,635 adult patients who initiated cognitive-behavioral therapy between 2018 and 2023 at 29 university outpatient clinics. Using a representation quotient approach, we compared the observed proportions of young-old adults (65-74 years) and old-old adults (≥75 years) with prevalence-stratified population age distributions. The robustness of the results was investiga

SUBMITTER: Wrede N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12670761 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature