An analysis of topic areas and topic trends in the Community Mental Health Journal from 1965 through 1977

A content analysis of all (N = 604) published articles in the Community Mental Health Journal from 1965 through 1977 was performed (a) to provide a cross-sectional view of the community mental health field, and (b) to identify topic trends over time. Sixty-one content categories were used to classify topic areas. Results revealed major and growing emphases on organizing for the delivery and measuring of the effects of mental health service systems. Topics found to be increasing in relative frequency over time included training, measurement and research methodology, and intervention; those decreasing included planning and needs assessment, therapy, and suicide. Topic areas were compared with key characteristics of the field. Topic trends were interpreted in terms of open systems theory.