Abstract
The dual role of the clinician-executive in mental health administration is chronologically reviewed, noting two basically different perspectives. The most frequent position advocated is that the clinician is an inherently capable administrator by virtue of his clinical training while others argue that the most appropriate mental health administrator is a non-clinician trained in administration. Training models and curriculae are discussed which support both views, including a proposed curriculum that is a synthesis of the extremes. Relevant research is reviewed and a need for more pertinent research, training and evaluation is noted.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alt, Herschel, and Mailick, Sidney. Training for mental health administrators.Hospital and Community Psychiatry, Nov. 348–351, 1971.
Barton, Walter E. Vanishing americans—mental hospital administrators and commissioners.Mental Hospitals, Feb. 13(1): 55–61, 1962.
Barton, Walter E. Vanishing americans revisited.Administration in Mental Health, 4(2): 76–77, 1977.
Beigel, Allan. The psychiatrist-administrator: Odd man out?Community Mental Health Journal. 11(2): 129–135, 1975.
Bindman, Arthur J. The psychologist as a mental health administrator.Professional Psychology, Fall. 445–456, 1970.
Buntz, Gregory C. Developing human service administrators: The educational challenge.Administration in Mental Health, 4(2): 42–51, 1977.
Feldman, Saul. Problems and prospects: Administration in mental health.Administration in Mental Health, 4(11): 1972.
Feldman, Saul. Budgeting and behavior. In Feldman, Saul ed.The Administration of Mental Health Services. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C Thomas, 1973.
Feldman, Saul. Educating the future mental health executive—a graduate curriculum.Administration in Mental Health, Summer: 74–85, 1974.
Feldman, Saul. Administration in mental health: Issues, problems, and prospects.Bulletin of the Pan American Health Organization, IX (3): 212–220, 1975.
Felzer, Stanton B. The psychologist as an administrator in a local community mental health facility.Professional Psychology, Fall: 448–451, 1970.
Foley, Archie R. A new emphasis on administrative psychiatry.American Journal of Psychiatry, 127(4): 134–156, 1970.
Foley, Archie R. Certification and training in administrative psychiatry.Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 22(3): 17–21, 1971.
Freedman, Alfred M. The role of the administrator. In: Beigel, Allan and Levenson, Alan, eds.The Community Mental Health Center. New York: Basic Books, Inc., 1972.
Greenblatt, Milton. Administrative psychiatry.The American Journal of Psychiatry, 129: 373–386, 1972.
Hawkes, Robert W. The role of the psychiatric administrator.Administrative Science Quarterly, 6: 89–106, 1961.
Kal, Edmund F. Are we losing psychiatrists to administrative positions?American Journal of Psychiatry, 128(3): 145–146, 1971.
Levinson, Daniel J. and Klerman, Gerald L. The clinician executive: Some problematic issues for the psychiatrist in mental health organizations.Psychiatry, 30: 3–15, 1967.
Levinson, Daniel J. and Klerman, Gerald L. The clinician-executive revisted.Administration in Mental Health, Winter: 64–67, 1972.
National Institute of Mental Health.Percent distribution of center directors by disciplines for selected years, 1971, 1975, and 1976. federally funded community mental health centers programs, United States, Division of Biometry and Epidemiology, Rockville, Md., 1977.
O'Neill, Francis J. On administrative psychiatry.Psychiatric Quarterly, 44: 359–365, 1970.
Pattison, E. Mansell. Young psychiatrist administrators.American Journal of Psychiatry, 131(2): 154–159, 1974.
Pattison, E. Mansell. Teaching mental health administration to psychiatric residents.Administration in Mental Health, 4(1): 54–59. 1976.
Reese, William G. An essay on administration.American Journal of Psychiatry, 128(10): 69–76, 1972.
Squire, Morris B. Introduction. In: Squire, Morris P., ed.Current Administrative Practices for Psychiatric Services, IX-XXI. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C. Thomas, 1970.
Steger, Joseph A., Manners, George, Jr., and Woodhouse, Richard. Clinical management: A descriptive model.Administration in Mental Health, 4(1): 83–90, 1976.
Steger, Joseph A., Woodhouse, Richard, and Goocey, Robert. The clinical manager: Performance and management characteristics.Administration in Mental Health, Fall: 76–81, 1973.
Ulett, George A., Schnibbe, Harry, Ganser, Leonard, and Thompson, Warren A. Mental health director: Bird of passage.American Journal of Psychiatry, 127(11): 126–130, 1971.
Wachtel, Andrew S. Therapeutic orientation: A handicap in mental health administration.American Journal of Psychiatry, 8(122): 916–919, 1966.
Wellington, Sheila W. and Bellis, Elizabeth C. Educating the future mental health executive: A public health approach.Administration in Mental Health, 4(1): 44–49, 1976.
Whittington, H. G. People make programs: Personnel management. In: Feldman, Saul, ed.The Administration of Mental Health Services. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C. Thomas, 1973.
Additional information
Andrew Hinkle is a pre-doctoral intern in clinical psychology at the University Hospitals of Ohio State University. Mark Burns is Assistant Professor of political science at Auburn University and serves as faculty adviser to the Curriculum in Pre-Hospital and Health Services Administration. Requests for reprints should be sent to Andrew Hinkle, Division of Clinical Psychology, 410 West 10th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hinkle, A., Burns, M. The clinician-executive: A review. Administration in Mental Health 6, 3–21 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00820771
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00820771