Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Avoiding Extinction: Successful Private Psychiatric Hospitals in the Opening Decade OF the Twenty-First Century

  • Published:
Psychiatric Quarterly Aims and scope Submit manuscript

 

The history of the private psychiatric hospital has been characterized by the rise and demise of scores, if not hundreds of facilities. In recent years some well known, long-standing psychiatric hospitals have closed their doors. What has accounted for the ability of some of the private psychiatric hospitals to flourish? Two strategies are proposed: 1) progressive change through a broadened scope and a geographic spread, and 2) staying true to the institution's core mission with clinical and fiscal modifications at the perimeter of that mission. A case example is provided for each adaptation: Sheppard Pratt Health System (Baltimore) for the former; Austen Riggs Center (Stockbridge, Massachusetts) for the latter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Geller JL: A history of private psychiatric hospitals in the U.S.A. From start to almost finished. Psychiatric Quarterly, 77:1-14, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Taylor B: Psychiatric hospitals experience hard times. http://wwwmdpsych.org/SP01_bTaylor.htm.

  3. Becker J, Hedgpeth D: Rockville hospital loses bid to survive. Washington Post, Metro section, pp. B1/, April 18, 2001.

  4. Sutton SB: Crossroads in Psychiatry: A History of the McLean Hospital. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Press, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  5. McLean Hospital 2002 Annual Report. Belmont, MA, McLean Hospital Public Affairs Office, 2003.

  6. The Butler Hospital-Its Story. Providence, Trustees and Superintendent of Butler Hospital, 1926.

  7. Ellen EF: Psychiatry's hottest niche markets. Psychiatric Times 20(4):1, 3–5, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Forbush B: The Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital 1853–1970. Philadelphia, J.B. Lippincott, 1971.

  9. Forbush B, Forbush B: Gatehouse. The Evolution of the Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital, 1853–1986. Baltimore, The Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital, 1986.

  10. Sharfstein SS: Does the psychiatric hospital have a future? The New Psychiatric Review 3(1):1, 3, 4, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Sheppard Pratt Health System: Annual Report, 2004.

  12. Sharfstein SS, Stoline A, Szpak C: Private psychiatric hospitals, in Talbott JA, Hales RE (Eds). Textbook of Administrative Psychiatry. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Publishing, 2001.

  13. Kubie LS: The Riggs Story. The Development of the Austen Riggs Center for the Study and Treatment of the Neurosis. New York, Paul B. Hoeber, 1960.

  14. Riggs AF, Terbune WB: The psychoneuroses-a problem in re-education. American Journal of Psychiatry 81:407–417, 1925.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Riggs AF: The psychoneuroses: Their nature and treatment. American Journal of Psychiatry 80:91–110, 1923.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Riggs AF: Nervousness: Its cause and prevention. Mental Hygiene 6:263–287, 1922.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Mullaney JW: When psychiatry came to Pittsfield. The Riggs Clinic: Original, professional, elegant and free. Unpublished manuscript, Austen Fox Riggs Library, 1986.

  18. Recent appointments. Mental Hygiene 31:339–340, 1947.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Knight RP: Management and psychotherapy of the borderline patient. Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic 17:139–150, 1953.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Fromm MG: Psychoanalysis in America: A view from the Austen Riggs Center. The Austen Riggs Center Review 15(1):18–22, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Will OA: Psychotherapeutics and the schizophrenic reaction. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 126:109–140, 1948.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Will OA: Psychotherapy at the Austen Riggs Center. Presented at the Central Neuropsychiatric Hospital Association Meeting, Chicago Illinois, March 16–17, 1972.

  23. Will OA: Proposal for a psychotherapeutic center. International Journal of Psychiatry 6:442–448, 1968.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Will OA: Designated discussion of “Ego psychology and the milieu of the mental hospital” by Lewis L. Robbins. International Psychiatry Clinics 5:88–94, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Shapiro ER: Institutional learning as chief executive, in Gould LJ, Stapley LF, Stein M (Eds). The Systems Psychodynamics of Organizations. New York, Karnac Press, 2001.

  26. Shapiro ER: From the Medical Director/CEO. The Austen Riggs Center Review 15(1):1–2, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Ellen EF: Intensive psychodynamic treatment alive and well at the Austen Riggs Center. Psychiatric Times 15(12):16–18, December 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Lahr EG: Malpractice suit against Austen Riggs. Berkshire Eagle, November 12, 2002.

  29. Gosselin L: Austen Riggs employees violated standards, witness testifies. Berkshire Eagle, December 12, 2002.

  30. Gosselin L: Riggs erred in case of patient, witness claims. Berkshire Eagle, December 13, 2002.

  31. Dobrowolski T: Austen Riggs team leaders claim ignorance of sexual relationship. Berkshire Eagle, December 17, 2002.

  32. Gosselin L: Patient's parents: Riggs didn't take concerns seriously. Berkshire Eagle, December 18, 2002.

  33. Gosselin L: Riggs patient tells of affair with nurse. Berkshire Eagle, December 19, 2002.

  34. The Austen Riggs Center 2002 Annual Report. Stockbridge, MA, Austen Riggs Center, 2003.

  35. The Austen Riggs Center 2004 Annual Report. Stockbridge, MA, Austen Riggs Center, 2005.

  36. Luhrmann TM: Of Two Minds: The Growing Disorder in American Psychiatry. New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 2000.

  37. Ray I: The popular feeling towards hospitals for the insane. American Journal of Insanity 9:36–65, 1852.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Callender JH: History and work of the Association of Medical Superintendent of American Institutions for the Insane-president's address. American Journal of Insanity 11:1–33, 1883.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Kirkbride TS: Reports of the Pennsylvania Hospital for the years 1864–1867. Philadelphia, Board of Managers of Pennsylvania Hospital, 1865–1868.

  40. McFarland A: Eighth Biennial Reports of the Trustees, Superintendent, and Treasurer of the Illinois State Hospital for the Insane at Jacksonville, December 1862. Chicago, Fulton, 1863.

  41. Andrews JB: President's address before the American Medico-Psychological Association. American Journal of Insanity 50:49–60, 1893.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Woodward SB: Observations on the medical treatment of insanity. American Journal of Insanity 7:1–34, 1850.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA

    Jeffrey L. Geller M.D., M.P.H. (Professor)

  2. University of Massachusetts Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA

    Jeffrey L. Geller M.D., M.P.H. (Professor)

Authors
  1. Jeffrey L. Geller M.D., M.P.H.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeffrey L. Geller M.D., M.P.H..

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Geller, J.L. Avoiding Extinction: Successful Private Psychiatric Hospitals in the Opening Decade OF the Twenty-First Century. Psychiatr Q 77, 189–201 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-006-9006-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-006-9006-y

KEY WORDS:

Search

Navigation