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Misperceived Effectiveness and the Demand for Psychotherapy

Author

Listed:
  • Christopher Roth

    (University of Cologne, CEPR and ECONtribute, Max Planck Institute for Collective Goods)

  • Peter Schwardmann

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

  • Egon Tripodi

    (Hertie School of Government)

Abstract

While psychotherapy has been shown to be effective in treating depression, take-up remains low. In a sample of 1,843 depressed individuals, we document that concerns about effectiveness are top of mind when respondents consider the value of therapy. We then show that the average respondent underestimates the effectiveness of therapy and that an information treatment that corrects this misperception increases participants’ incentivized willingness to pay for therapy. Information affects therapy demand by changing beliefs rather than by shifting attention. Our results suggest that information interventions that target the perceived effectiveness of therapy are a potent tool in combating the ongoing mental health crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher Roth & Peter Schwardmann & Egon Tripodi, 2024. "Misperceived Effectiveness and the Demand for Psychotherapy," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 279, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
  • Handle: RePEc:ajk:ajkdps:279
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jonathan de Quidt & Johannes Haushofer & Christopher Roth, 2018. "Measuring and Bounding Experimenter Demand," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 108(11), pages 3266-3302, November.
    2. Simon Jäger & Christopher Roth & Nina Roussille & Benjamin Schoefer, 2024. "Worker Beliefs About Outside Options," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 139(3), pages 1505-1556.
    3. Nathan Barker & Gharad T. Bryan & Dean Karlan & Angela Ofori-Atta & Christopher R. Udry, 2021. "Mental Health Therapy as a Core Strategy for Increasing Human Capital: Evidence from Ghana," NBER Working Papers 29407, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Matthias Sutter & Martin G. Kocher & Daniela Glätzle-Rützler & Stefan T. Trautmann, 2013. "Impatience and Uncertainty: Experimental Decisions Predict Adolescents' Field Behavior," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 103(1), pages 510-531, February.
    5. Hunt Allcott & Dmitry Taubinsky, 2015. "Evaluating Behaviorally Motivated Policy: Experimental Evidence from the Lightbulb Market," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 105(8), pages 2501-2538, August.
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    7. Peter Andre & Ingar Haaland & Christopher Roth & Mirko Wiederholt & Johannes Wohlfart, 2021. "Narratives about the Macroeconomy," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 127, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    8. Blattman, Christopher & Sheridan, Margaret A. Ph.D. & Jamison, Julian C. & Chaskel, Sebastian, 2022. "Cognitive behavior therapy reduces crime and violence over 10 years: Experimental evidence," SocArXiv q85ux, Center for Open Science.
    9. Jonathan de Quidt & Johannes Haushofer, 2016. "Depression for Economists," NBER Working Papers 22973, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    10. Thomas Graeber & Christopher Roth & Florian Zimmermann, 2024. "Stories, Statistics, and Memory," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 139(4), pages 2181-2225.
    11. Ingar Haaland & Christopher Roth & Johannes Wohlfart, 2023. "Designing Information Provision Experiments," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 61(1), pages 3-40, March.
    12. Manuela Angelucci & Daniel Bennett, 2024. "The Economic Impact of Depression Treatment in India: Evidence from Community-Based Provision of Pharmacotherapy," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 114(1), pages 169-198, January.
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    16. Hunt Allcott & Luca Braghieri & Sarah Eichmeyer & Matthew Gentzkow, 2020. "The Welfare Effects of Social Media," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 110(3), pages 629-676, March.
    17. Peter Schwardmann & Egon Tripodi & Joël J. van der Weele, 2022. "Self-Persuasion: Evidence from Field Experiments at International Debating Competitions," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 112(4), pages 1118-1146, April.
    18. Matthew W. Ridley & Gautam Rao & Frank Schilbach & Vikram H. Patel, 2020. "Poverty, Depression, and Anxiety: Causal Evidence and Mechanisms," NBER Working Papers 27157, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    20. Abhijit Banerjee & Esther Duflo & Erin Grela & Madeline McKelway & Frank Schilbach & Garima Sharma & Girija Vaidyanathan, 2023. "Depression and Loneliness among the Elderly in Low- and Middle-Income Countries," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 37(2), pages 179-202, Spring.
    21. Anselm Hager & Lukas Hensel & Johannes Hermle & Christopher Roth, 2024. "Political Activists are Not Driven by Instrumental Motives: Evidence from Two Natural Field Experiments," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 274, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    22. Michelle Acampora & Francesco Capozza & Vahid Moghani, 2022. "Mental Health Literacy, Beliefs and Demand for Mental Health Support among University Students," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 22-079/I, Tinbergen Institute.
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    24. Taisuke Imai & Davide D. Pace & Peter Schwardmann & Joël van der Weele & Davide Domenico Pace, 2022. "Correcting Consumer Misperceptions about CO2 Emissions," CESifo Working Paper Series 10138, CESifo.
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    Cited by:

    1. Charlotte Cordes & Jana Friedrichsen & Simeon Schudy, 2023. "Motivated Procrastination," Rationality and Competition Discussion Paper Series 471, CRC TRR 190 Rationality and Competition.
    2. Tsegay Tekleselassie & Marc Witte & Jonas Radbruch & Lukas Hensel & Ingo E. Isphording, 2025. "Feedback, Confidence and Job Search Behavior," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2025_668, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany.
    3. Ingar Haaland & Christopher Roth & Stefanie Stantcheva & Johannes Wohlfart, 2025. "Understanding Economic Behavior Using Open-Ended Survey Data," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 362, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Mental Health; Depression; Psychotherapy; Beliefs; Effectiveness; Information policy;
    All these keywords.

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