-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LwAfp2CjocgnlVU8vM8jFzcK7uW5wniR4IXkNxJQZh/czq/1BjU9tcpC8GCdkITe
 9PEpLq4gLzjfv+r7wwiWxQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-03-018314.txt : 20030814
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-03-018314.hdr.sgml : 20030814
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030813212240
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-03-018314
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030811
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030813

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HERR DAVID S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001246159

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20488
		FILM NUMBER:		03843194

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ACACIA VENTURE PARTNERS
		STREET 2:		101 CALIFORNIA STREET STE 3160
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94111

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PSYCHIATRIC SOLUTIONS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000829608
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-SPECIALTY OUTPATIENT FACILITIES, NEC [8093]
		IRS NUMBER:				232491707
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0430

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		113 SEABOARD LANE
		STREET 2:		SUITE C-100
		CITY:			FRANKLIN
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37067
		BUSINESS PHONE:		615-312-5700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		113 SEABOARD LANE
		STREET 2:		SUITE C-100
		CITY:			FRANKLIN
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37067

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PMR CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ZARON CAPITAL INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19891116
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-08-11</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000829608</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PSYCHIATRIC SOLUTIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PSYS</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001246159</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HERR DAVID S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>101 CALIFORNIA STREET, SUITE 3160</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>1</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value per share</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-08-11</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>18145</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>11.8100</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>D</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>1545260</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>I</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <natureOfOwnership>
          <value>See footnote</value>
          <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value per share</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-08-11</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>955</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>11.8100</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>D</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>67309</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>I</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <natureOfOwnership>
          <value>See footnote</value>
          <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value per share</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-08-12</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>13015</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>11.8658</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>D</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>1532245</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>I</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <natureOfOwnership>
          <value>See footnote</value>
          <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value per share</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-08-12</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>685</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>11.8658</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>D</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>66624</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>I</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <natureOfOwnership>
          <value>See footnote</value>
          <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">Owned of record by Acacia Venture Partners, L.P. ("AVP").  Mr. Heer is a general partner of Acacia Management, L.P., the sole general partner of AVP.  Mr. Heer disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities owned of record by AVP, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">Owned of record by South Pointe Venture Partners, L.P. ("South Pointe").  Mr. Heer is a general partner of South Pointe.  Mr. Heer disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities owned of record by South Pointe, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>/s/ David S. Heer</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-08-13</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----