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Misperceived Effectiveness and the Demand for Psychotherapy

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  • Christopher Roth
  • Peter Schwardmann
  • Egon Tripodi

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 effectiveness concerns 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 correcting 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," Berlin School of Economics Discussion Papers 0036, Berlin School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:bdp:dpaper:0036
    DOI: 10.48462/opus4-5362
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    10. 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.
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    13. 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.
    14. 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.
    15. 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.
    16. Jonathan de Quidt & Johannes Haushofer, 2016. "Depression for Economists," NBER Working Papers 22973, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    17. 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.
    18. Rebecca Dizon-Ross & Seema Jayachandran, 2022. "Improving Willingness-to-Pay Elicitation by Including a Benchmark Good," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 112, pages 551-555, May.
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    20. 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.
    21. Alan Gerber & Mitchell Hoffman & John Morgan & Collin Raymond, 2020. "One in a Million: Field Experiments on Perceived Closeness of the Election and Voter Turnout," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 12(3), pages 287-325, July.
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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," CESifo Working Paper Series 11746, CESifo.
    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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    Keywords

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

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