PSI Patriot Support Addresses Combat Stress at Military Health Support Systems Conference

FRANKLIN, Tenn.—May 12, 2010—Psychiatric Solutions, Inc. (PSI) (NASDAQ: PSYS) and its PSI Patriot Support initiative recently presented at the 2nd Annual Military Health Support Systems Conference in Arlington, Va.

Charles H. Dukes, M.D., director of military psychiatry for PSI and Cedar Springs Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colo., addressed attendees about the military behavioral health crisis in his presentation—“Pre- and Post-Deployment Combat Stress Inoculation: Practical and Philosophical Considerations.”

“According to statistics, one in five of the 1.7 million military members who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan are believed to have symptoms of anxiety, depression and other behavioral health issues,” said Dukes. “As a nation, it is our duty to provide sustainable solutions to all service members and their families to restore resiliency. Multiple deployments have taken a toll on the mind, body and spirit of those serving us, and we need to adjust our mental healthcare treatment to meet those needs.”

Dukes talked about pre-deployment preparation, combat-tested Warrior resiliency training and post-deployment treatment approaches, among other topics. He also stressed that communication is critical with military command units, family members and civilian behavioral health providers, such as PSI Patriot Support.

PSI Patriot Support includes inpatient and outpatient programs to treat post-traumatic stress (PTS), depression, substance abuse and general anxiety disorders that may be part of the readjustment issues related to multiple active combat situations.

Eight facilities are currently designated as Patriot Support Centers and work with military installation commanders to tailor services that meet the needs of active duty service members. Additionally, there are 17 TRICARE certified residential treatment facilities ready to serve the behavioral health needs of children and families. As mental health services are required in other areas, additional hospitals will fall under the PSI Patriot Support umbrella.

Dukes has more than 22 years of military experience with active deployments to the combat theater. He enlisted in the Navy in 1985 and served as a Hospital Corpsman. In 2005, he was commissioned in the Army medical corps and subsequently provided psychiatric care to soldiers at Camp Taji in Iraq in 2008 as part of a combat stress team. Recently, Dukes was activated to provide psychiatric support for individuals involved in the tragedy at Fort Hood in November 2009.

The goal of the 2nd Annual Military Health Support Systems Conference was to ensure physical and mental readiness by delivering practical operational solutions. Attendees from the Department of Defense, Health and Human Services and Veteran’s Administration included Chiefs, Commanders, Directors and program managers.

For more information about PSI Patriot Support visit www.PSIPatriotSupport.com.

About Psychiatric Solutions, Inc. (PSI)

Psychiatric Solutions, Inc. offers an extensive continuum of behavioral health programs to critically ill children, adolescents and adults and is the largest operator of owned or leased freestanding psychiatric inpatient facilities with more than 11,000 beds in 32 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. PSI also manages freestanding psychiatric inpatient facilities for government agencies and psychiatric inpatient units within medical/surgical hospitals owned by others. For more information, please visit www.psychiatricsolutionsmedia.com

Andrea Lindsley
(o) 615-780-3315
(c) 615-415-8886
andrea.lindsley@dvl.com

Ronald Roberts
(o) 615-780-3388
(c) 615-330-8568
ronald.roberts@dvl.com

209 Seventh Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37219

This release was published on openPR.