Psychotherapy Is Worth It: A Comprehensive Review of Its Cost-Effectiveness is a multi-authored systematic review of the medical literature from 1984 to 2007 relevant to the cost-effectiveness of all kinds of psychotherapy. It also reviews the stigma associated with psychiatric illness and its true cost to society. Mental illness is the leading cause of disability around the globe, according to the World Health Organization, and nearly half of the population will suffer from at least one psychiatric disorder in their lifetime. This book examines attitudes undermining the provision of psychiatric care including psychotherapy and the resulting lack of treatment leading to increased morbidity and mortality. The studies reviewed demonstrate that appropriate psychotherapeutic treatment contributes to better outcomes overall. Psychotherapy Is Worth It: A Comprehensive Review of Its Cost-Effectiveness concludes that psychotherapy works for many conditions, is cost-effective, can at times provide significant cost-offset in other medical and hospital expenses, and is not abused by those persons not truly in need.
