The Menninger Clinic ranks sixth in national survey
of best psychiatric hospitals
HOUSTON, TX—(July 11, 2008)

The Menninger Clinic ranks sixth among psychiatric hospitals on the 2008 list of America’s Best Hospitals released today by U.S.News & World Report. Menninger, the only psychiatric hospital in Texas among the top 10, has earned a coveted spot on the list for the past 18 consecutive years, since the rankings began in 1991.

Psychiatric hospital ratings are based on annual survey results from a three-year period of board-certified psychiatrists. Doctors are asked to list the five psychiatric hospitals in the U.S. they consider best for the treatment of difficult cases. Psychiatry is one of five medical specialties measured solely on reputation among physicians surveyed nationwide.

 “I am extremely proud of our faculty and staff for repeatedly receiving this recognition from psychiatrists across the country. It is because of the quality work they do every day,” said Ian Aitken, president and CEO of The Menninger Clinic. “The needs of our patients and families continue to challenge us daily to give our best efforts. Our mission is to provide the highest quality of care, mental health training programs and research toward reducing suffering, preventing mental illness and eliminating the stigma surrounding mental illness.”

The Menninger Clinic’s inpatient programs specialize in treating adolescents and adults who have a difficult-to-treat psychiatric disorder that may also be complicated by an addiction or other co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Menninger programs include Adolescent Treatment, Hope, Professionals in Crisis, Eating Disorders, Compass for young adults, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Comprehensive Psychiatric Assessment Services. The Clinic also operates research and education programs through its affiliation with Baylor College of Medicine.

“Through research with our collaborators at Baylor and around the world, we are working to understand devastating mental disorders that affect so many people and develop treatment with the highest possible value and lasting effects,” said Aitken. “We share what we learn through this research with other psychiatrists so that we are impacting patients and families in the United States, as well as worldwide.”

  The Menninger Clinic is in the midst of a capital campaign to build the first international epicenter for mental health. The new location is less than 10 minutes from the Texas Medical Center and will encompass 50 acres near South Main and South Post Oak. The Epicenter will unite the best minds in psychiatry to advance and accelerate treatment, research, training and advocacy of mental health. For more information on The Menninger Clinic, please call 713-275-5000 or visit the Web site at www.MenningerClinic.com.

Each year, consumers and health professionals look to surveys such as the U.S.News & World Report rankings for information on top-quality institutions. A complete listing of America’s Best Hospitals can be found at www.usnews.com/besthospitals.

About The Menninger Clinic
The Menninger Clinic is a nonprofit international specialty psychiatric center, providing treatment, research and education. Founded in 1925 in Kansas, Menninger relocated to Houston in 2003 and is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine. Since 1991, Menninger has been named among the leading psychiatric hospitals in U.S.News & World Report’s annual ranking of America’s Best Hospitals. Menninger is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.