The author describes the increasing focus on regulation and the
standards applied to the field of mental health. He discusses four distinct
but overlapping types of standards: 1) clinical, 2) practitioner, 3)
program and facility, and 4) payment. He emphasizes the increasing
influence of legislation and judicial decisions and points out several
trends in standard setting affecting mental health care. Psychiatrists and
other mental health practitioners are called on to take a larger role in
shaping these standards to ensure that the quality of patient care is not
compromised.
Abstract Teaser