The phasing out of mental hospitals in the United States.

The authors view the current wave of closing state mental hospitals against the background of trends in mental health services during the past 20 years. Although a small number of hospitals has been totally closed, the overall number of institutions has remained stable due to the opening of new hospitals, and many states will be forced to consider phasing out additional hospitals in the immediate future. The closing of hospitals is a social phenomenon that involves the lives and welfare of patients, personnel, families, and the community and poses a substantial political and logistical challenge. The authors make a few suggestions for those who are contemplating closing hospitals in the future.