We have a long-standing history of dedication to people with behavioral health disorders – mental illnesses and/or addictions – and their families.

The Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center (PRC) was established in 1987 with initial research in New Hampshire focused on integrating mental health case management and substance abuse services, and on integrating vocational and mental health services, for people with serious mental illnesses.  In the mid-1990s, we expanded beyond New Hampshire and replicated our earlier findings through research in urban settings in Connecticut and Washington, DC.

In the late 1990s, the PRC engaged in new research areas in order to support further the recovery of people with serious mental illness, such as, housing and homelessness, trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder, infectious disease, elder services, and integrating mental health treatment into primary addiction treatment settings.  At the same time, we continued to develop existing programs; enhanced our economics, statistics, and data management capacity; developed a greater number of research collaborations around the country; and enhanced junior faculty support and training.

By the turn of the century, the PRC was actively involved in research concerning the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices for behavioral health disorders in community settings and in promoting shared decision making between consumers of services and their providers of care.  By 2010 our investigators were exploring the use of technology to increase the reach and effectiveness of behavioral health services.  Soon thereafter, the Center for Technology and Behavioral Health merged with the PRC, in order to accelerate the development and evaluation of Internet and mobile technologies to improve mental health and addiction treatment and rehabilitation services.

Today, the PRC’s staff members are involved in various capacities (e.g., investigators, consultants, trainers) in many states and numerous foreign countries.