Introduction to the special section on seeking new methods in mental health services research

Mental health services research aims ultimately to improve the quality, impact, and cost-effectiveness of services. Experience during the past decade suggests that the goals and study conditions of mental health services research require special methods. This special section presents 7 articles that give a flavor of the issues addressed and some of the methods that characterize this emerging research area. Although the series cannot explicate the full breadth or all the nuances of these methods, our goal is to entice colleagues to join us in developing methods for addressing services research questions.