National practice guidelines for mental health care: a comparative policy analysis of the United kingdom and the United States.
Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO, 1996). In a report on health indicators of premature death and disability, the World Bank concluded that mental health problems account for 8.1% of the global burden of disease (GBD). Industrialized nations have taken different approaches in applying innovations to mental health care and mental health care policy. This paper uses the K. McInnis-Dittrich model of policy analysis (Ginsberg, 1994) to analyze the approaches of the United Kingdom (U.K.) and the United States (U.S.) to mental health treatment, specifically examining the effects of the U.K.'s national practice guidelines and the U.S.'s lack of similar guidelines. Recommendations for changes in current U.S. mental health policy are presented.
Simmons
Leigh Ann
LA
Family Studies Department, University of Kentucky, 305-A Funkhouser Building, Lexington, KY 40506-0054, USA. leighann@uky.edu
Wright
David W
DW
D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States