For-Profit Versus Non-Profit Freestanding Psychiatric Inpatient Facilities: An Update

Although several studies have examined the trend toward the decreasing differentiation of non-profit from for-profit general hospitals, few have focused on freestanding psychiatric hospitals. This study updates previous research that used psychiatric hospital data from the calendar year 1986 with data from 1990. In addition, a preliminary examination of the influence of market competition on the behavior of non-profit psychiatric facilities was conducted. Results confirm a converging trend between for-profit and non-profit facilities that is related, in part, to competition.