The Influence of Marital and Family Therapy on Health Care Utilization in a Health Maintenance Organization
Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Journal of Marital and Family Therapy
Issue
26
Publication Date
2000
First Page
281
Last Page
291
Abstract
Research has shown that people reduce their use of health care after individual psychotherapy. However, little research has been done to learn if marital and family therapy has a similar effect. Subjects (n = 292) from a health-maintenance organization were randomly selected according to the type of therapy they had received. Subjects' medical records were examined for 6 months before, during, and after therapy. Those who received marital and family therapy significantly reduced their use of health care services by 21.5%. These results show an “offset effect” for marriage and family therapy.
Recommended Citation
Law, D.D., & Crane, D.R. (2000). The influence of marital and family therapy on health care utilization in a health maintenance organization. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. 26, 281-291.