A game of asymmetric information between a therapist and a mentally ill patient

Abstract

In this paper, we follow up research of Vatne [23] related to how mentally ill patients could (and perhaps should) be treated. We propose, model, and ana- lyze a simple sequential game of incomplete and asymmetric information where the patient moves rst, signaling behavior which is observed by the therapist with lack or limited knowledge of the actual patient type. We assume greatly approximated strategy spaces both for patient and therapist, but will still claim that our results increase knowledge of this important relation. Knowledge that may be critically important in continued improved treatment of patients with mental illness.