Psychological intervention and medical utilization in children and adolescents of low-income families

Studied the effect on medical utilization when psychological care was provided to 63 children and adolescents whose low-income families were members of a completely subsidized health program. Comparisons of medical visits were made over a 2-yr period for 3 groups: a treatment group of registrants receiving psychological services; a control group matched with the treatment group according to age, sex, ethnicity, medical utilization, and psychological distress; and a group matched only by age, sex, and ethnicity. Results indicate that registrants who received psychological treatment had significant decreases in overall medical utilization, whereas there were no decreases in the other 2 groups. Findings are consistent with earlier research but extend the pattern of results into younger populations as well as low-income families. (8 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).