Psychiatric peer review: the Washington, D.C., experience, 1972-1975

The authors describe the method by which claims review for psychiatric practice is carried out by an APA district branch peer review committee in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and analyze the claims reviews handled by the committee from 1972 through 1975. On the basis of their findings they conclude that peer review of psychiatric treatment can be carried out in a medical framework, that it can have some effect in diminishing costs incurred by improper utilization or by abuses, and that it can improve the quality of psychiatric practice.