Incorporating the Prevention Paradigm into Administrative Psychiatry

This overview describes the application of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention-as well as universal, selective, and indicated preventive interventions-to psychiatric and substance use disorders. Ways in which the psychiatrist with a clearly defined administrative role, such as the medical director of a program, service, agency, or organization, or a psychiatrist in some other directorial role (eg, director of education or clinical program director), can apply the prevention paradigm are described. Specifically, a prevention orientation is relevant to administrative psychiatry in the domains of service delivery, education and training, research, and community consultation and advocacy.