Religious affiliations in mental health research samples as compared with national samples.

Religious affiliations of patients in research samples in four major psychiatric journals for the years 1978-1982 were compared with those reported in national samples. Protestants and the unaffiliated were underrepresented, whereas Jewish persons were overrepresented. Catholics used mental health services in proportions similar to their presence in the population at large. These findings suggest that religious affiliation may influence the use of mental health services.