Opinion Letter No. 78-73
Contents of letter
January 23, 1973
Honorable William A. Peterson
Representative, District 117
503 East Eastwood
Marshall, Missouri 65340
Dear Representative Peterson:
This letter is in response to your communication of January 18, 1973 concerning the "Missouri Institute of Psychiatry" and the "Psychiatric Research Foundation of Missouri."
The status of the former is best exemplified by the summary found in the Missouri Institute of Psychiatry, Bulletin 1967-1969, p 4, which states:
"The urgent need to expand and intensify research efforts in mental health in Missouri, as elsewhere across the country, led to the founding in 1962 of the Missouri Institute of Psychiatry in St. Louis. At first a part of the Missouri Division of Mental Health, MIP since 1965 has been a full Department of Psychiatry of the University of Missouri School of Medicine. Its fundamental objectives have always been to conduct research and to train mental health professionals. It has become a leading center for research in mental illness, especially for those types with problems of concern to public mental health programs.
A close working relationship between a major university and a state department of mental health furthers the Institute's goals, since it can offer the attraction of a University appointment and at the same time provide ready access to a wealth of patient material...a rare combination indeed. Any consenting patient in the Division's 10 major and 10 smaller institutions may be brought into the Institute's research environment, thus setting the stage for progress in finding answers to the etiology and treatment of major mental illness. Several factors insure the smooth operation of the dual-functioning program:
Key members of the Department of Psychiatry at MIP play important roles in the Missouri Division of Mental Health; the Institute is housed on the grounds of St. Louis State Hospital, the Division's largest hospital; much of the Institute's financial support comes from the Division either through direct grant supporting programs or direct provision of services; and, finally, benefit occurs to the Division's patients while the institute's research and training objectives are being met.
MIP's research efforts focus on developing better instruments and techniques for treating the mentally ill and on critically evaluating new and existing techniques."
Apparently it was with these goals in mind that the legislature has annually appropriated sums to the Missouri Division of Mental Health to continue effective cooperation with the University of Missouri in the Missouri Institute of Psychiatry program. (See for example, H.B. 1005, Sec. 5245, 76th General Assembly, Second Regular Session; H.B. 5, Sec. 5.450, 75th General Assembly; H.B. 5, Sec. 5.410, 74th General Assembly; H.B. 5, Sec. 5.310, 73rd General Assembly; H.B. 5, Sec. 5.240, 72nd General Assembly)
The pro forma corporation of which you speak, the Psychiatric Research Foundation of Missouri is not a part of the Division of Mental Health and not a part of the University of Missouri. It does not appear to receive or use any state funds and we understand that it's personnel consists only of Dr. Warren A. Thompson who is a full time staff member of the University of Missouri and who is located at the Kohler Building, St. Louis State Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri. (See Official Manual 1971-72, p. 595) The Psychiatric Research Foundation is a nonprofit organization which is closely geared to the demands of the mental health community.
In sum, we find nothing in the record which suggests any impropriety and nothing which would warrant further investigation. The complexities of these organizations suggest only a cooperative effort on the part of state government to function effectively in the mental health area.
Very truly yours,
John C. Danforth
Attorney General