<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-20</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000829608</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PSYCHIATRIC SOLUTIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PSYS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001199270</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAMONT ANN H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
<reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>c/o Oak Investment Partners </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>One Gorham Island</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>Westport</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>06880</rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000933938</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OAK INVESTMENT PARTNERS VI LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
<reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>One Gorham Islamd</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2/><rptOwnerCity>Westport</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>06880</rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001035101</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OAK INVESTMENT PARTNERS VII L P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
<reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>One Gorham Island</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2/><rptOwnerCity>Westport</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>06880</rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001039956</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OAK VII AFFILIATES FUND LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
<reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>One Gorham Island</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2/><rptOwnerCity>Westport</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>06880</rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001131676</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OAK INVESTMENT PARTNERS X LTD PARTNERSHIP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
<reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>One Gorham Island</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2/><rptOwnerCity>Westport</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>06880</rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001143824</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OAK X AFFILIATES FUND LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE GORHAM ISLAND</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTPORT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06880</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-20</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>472</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1888</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See Note </value><footnoteId id="F2"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1632776</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See Note </value><footnoteId id="F3"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>40996</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See Note </value><footnoteId id="F4"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">On October 20, 2003, CGJR Health Care Services Private Equities, L.P. (&quot;CGJR Health&quot;) made an in-kind pro rata distribution of shares of Psychiatric Solutions, Inc. Common Stock to its limited and general partners.  Oak Investment Partners VI, Limited Partnership is a limited partner of CGJR Health.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Represents shares directly owned by Oak Investment Partners VI, Limited Partnership.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Represents shares directly owned by Oak Investment Partners VII, Limited Partnership.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Represents shares directly owned by Oak VII Affiliates Fund, Limited Partnership.</footnote></footnotes><remarks>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Ann H. Lamont is a Director of Psychiatric Solutions, Inc.  Ms. Lamont is a Managing Member of Oak Associates VI, L.L.C., the General Partner of Oak Investment Partners VI, Limited Partnership; a Managing Member of Oak Associates VII, L.L.C., the General Partner of Oak Investment Partners VII, Limited Partnership; a Managing Member of Oak VII Affiliates, L.L.C., the General Partner of Oak VII Affiliates Fund, Limited Partnership; a Managing Member of Oak Associates X, L.L.C., the General Partner of Oak Investment Partners X, Limited Partnership; and a Managing Member of Oak X Affiliates, L.L.C., the General Partner of Oak X Affiliates Fund, Limited Partnership.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Each Reporting Person disclaims the existence of a &quot;group&quot; and disclaims beneficial ownership of any securities (except to the extent of such Reporting Person's pecuniary interest in such securities) other than any securities reported herein as being directly owned by such Reporting Person, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that such Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of any such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Ann H. Lamont</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature><ownerSignature><signatureName>Ann H. Lamont, Managing Member of Oak Associates VI, L.L.C., the General Partner of Oak Investment Partners VI, Limited Partnership</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature><ownerSignature><signatureName>Ann H. Lamont, Managing Member of Oak Associates VII, L.L.C., the General Partner of Oak Investment Partners VII, Limited Partnership</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature><ownerSignature><signatureName>Ann H. Lamont, Managing Member of Oak VII Affiliates, L.L.C., the General Partner of Oak VII Affiliates Fund, Limited Partnership</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature><ownerSignature><signatureName>Ann H. Lamont, Managing Member of Oak Associates X, L.L.C., the General Partner of Oak Investment Partners X, Limited Partnership</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature><ownerSignature><signatureName>Ann H. Lamont, Managing Member of Oak X Affiliates, L.L.C., the General Partner of Oak X Affiliates Fund, Limited Partnership</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

