Provision of Psychotherapy for a Statewide Population of Medicaid Beneficiaries With Schizophrenia

This study uses 1,995 Medicaid-paid claims from Georgia to examine factors influencing the provision of psychotherapy services to patients with schizophrenia. Measures of services included individual and group psychotherapy and were derived using the Physician's Current Procedural Terminology, 4th edition (CPT-4) codes. Approximately one in four patients received psychotherapy during the study period. When controlling for other factors, psychotherapy use was less likely for African American than White patients and more likely for women, those with comorbid substance abuse, and those with severe physical comorbidities. Compared with those not treated with an antipsychotic, those being treated with typical antipsychotics did not differ in psychotherapy use, but those treated with atypical antipsychotics were significantly more likely also to be receiving psychotherapy. Among psychotherapy users, individual psychotherapy alone was most common. Compared with those receiving only individual psychotherapy, the probability of receiving additional group therapy or group therapy alone was elevated for African American patients, those in metropolitan areas, and those with comorbid substance abuse.