Growth of a Field of Policy Research: The Economics of Mental Health

This article is an overview of the growth of the field of mental health economics during the past decade. Research in this field has contributed to an understanding of such issues as the economic effects of state regulation on mental health insurance, comparative costs of treatment alternatives, and the effect of prospective payment on the supply of care. The National Institute of Mental Health has played an important role in promoting the growth of mental health economics by supporting research and education in this field, the results of which are shaping mental health policy. (Spring 1990)