Using the data collected by Hollingshead and Redlich in 1950 and their
own recent data, the authors describe trends in the mental health field
over a 25-year period. They found a marked increase in admissions and
readmissions to inpatient facilities and a significant decrease in the
average length of stay; a considerable increase in outpatient treatment
services; a shift in major diagnostic categories from schizophrenia to
alcoholism; an unequal allocation of services to young versus elderly
patients; discharge of many chronic patients to nursing homes; the
increased involvement of psychiatrists in administrative work and decreased
time spent in direct patient care; and an increase in third- party
insurance as a source of patient fees.Abstract Teaser