title: Private practice and the purchase of services: who are the practitioners?
abstract: Psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and nurses in private practice were surveyed with a view to the feasibility of referring patients from the public sector as part of comprehensive mental health planning. As a first step, information was secured about these clinicians' practices. Comparisons are made among the disciplines, with emphasis on practitioners' and patients' characteristics.
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008396:Maryland; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011331:Private Practice; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D011586:Psychology, Clinical; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012949:Social Work, Psychiatric