MINNEAPOLIS, July 22, 2008—An investment analysis firm has conducted a survey of trends in behavioral health, which found psychiatric and substance abuse admissions are rising.

Findings of the Longbow Research survey: 

• Admissions are higher, with acute inpatient and outpatient leading the rise. Overall, a majority of industry contacts, 58.6 percent, said admissions were higher year over year.
• Substance abuse treatment is growing. Among the two major service categories, a majority of contacts said their substance abuse treatment admissions have grown in 2Q08, about 60 percent.
• Adolescent care is steady while the adult population grows. Survey respondents showed mostly stable levels of children and adolescent populations, while more reported an increase in adult patients.
• Sufficient capacity seems like a dream. Sixty-five percent of contacts noted their facilities maintain a waiting list and/or have turned patients away in the past year because there were no open beds.

Longbow Research is an independent institutional equity research firm based in Cleveland.