What if I needed help? Population preferences for first-line mental health treatments in the post-COVID time

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A study surveyed 2,125 participants in Germany about their preferences for mental health treatment modalities.
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The majority of respondents preferred psychotherapy over psychopharmacology for treating mental disorders.
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Preference for psychotherapy varied by disorder, with the strongest preference observed for depression.
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Females, individuals with prior treatment experience, and healthcare workers showed less preference for pharmacological treatment.
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The findings indicate a gap between guideline-recommended treatments and public treatment preferences.

Frontiers In Psychiatry

by Voderholzer, Ulrich , Wuttke, Eva P., Baumeister, Anna , Zisler, Eva M., Jelinek, Lena
May 15, 2026

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