Exhibit 10.5

                         MAGELLAN HEALTH SERVICES, INC.
                         ------------------------------

                         2003 MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN

                          NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT

                     REFERENCE No. 200_-___-_ (____________)
                              As of January 5, 2004


NAME OF OPTIONEE:

SHARES SUBJECT TO OPTION:        _______ shares of the Ordinary Common Stock of
                                 Magellan Health Services, Inc. ("Shares")

TYPE OF OPTION:                  ___X___  Nonqualified     ________  Incentive

EXERCISE PRICE PER SHARE:        $ ________

DATE OF GRANT:                   As of January 5, 2004

DATE EXERCISABLE:                This option shall be exercisable (prior to its
                                 expiration) in whole or in part only to the
                                 extent it is vested and, prior to the seventh
                                 anniversary of the Date of Grant, only to the
                                 extent the Trading Price on the date of
                                 exercise (on or after the vesting date) exceeds
                                 the Target Price, all as determined as provided
                                 below. In addition, after termination of
                                 Optionee's Service, this option shall be
                                 exercisable (prior to its expiration) during
                                 the time period and on the conditions specified
                                 below (and only during such time period and on
                                 such conditions, notwithstanding the provisions
                                 of the Option Agreement governing the exercise
                                 of an option after termination of service).

                                 The Target Price shall be the amount equal to
                                 the Exercise Price plus a cumulative return
                                 thereon of 16% per annum, with daily
                                 compounding, from the Date of Grant until the
                                 date for determining the Trading Price
                                 applicable to the exercise of the option. The
                                 Trading Price applicable to the date of
                                 exercise of the option shall be determined as
                                 of the day on which the Shares traded
                                 immediately preceding the exercise date based
                                 on the Fair Market Value of the Shares for each
                                 of the 20 consecutive trading days ending on
                                 (and including) such trading date.

                                 Exercise after termination of Service:

                                 >>         In the event Optionee's Service
                                            terminates by reason of his
                                            resignation, this option (to the


                                            extent then vested and subject to
                                            the foregoing condition for exercise
                                            before the seventh anniversary of
                                            the Date of Grant regarding the
                                            Trading Price of the Shares) shall
                                            be exercisable only until the later
                                            of (i) 90 days following the date
                                            Optionee's Service terminates by
                                            reason of such resignation and (ii)
                                            the 45th day following the first day
                                            on or after the date Optionee's
                                            Service so terminates when the
                                            Optionee is not subject to a
                                            prohibition imposed by the Company
                                            on trading securities of the Company
                                            and may sell the Shares acquired
                                            upon exercise of the Option without
                                            violation of Rule 10b-5 under the
                                            Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

                                 >>         In the event Optionee's Service
                                            terminates by reason of discharge by
                                            the Company for cause, this option
                                            shall cease to be exercisable (even
                                            if vested and notwithstanding the
                                            Trading Price at the time)
                                            automatically upon the effective
                                            date Optionee's Service so
                                            terminates.

                                 >>         In the event Optionee's Service
                                            terminates by reason of his death or
                                            disability, this option shall vest
                                            as provided below and remain
                                            exercisable for two years following
                                            such termination of Service (subject
                                            to the foregoing condition for
                                            exercise before the seventh
                                            anniversary of the Date of Grant
                                            regarding the Trading Price of the
                                            Shares).

                                 >>         In the event Optionee terminates his
                                            Service for good reason, unless such
                                            termination of Service is in
                                            connection with a change in control
                                            of the Company, this option shall
                                            vest as provided below and remain
                                            exercisable for two years following
                                            such termination of Service (subject
                                            to the foregoing condition for
                                            exercise before the seventh
                                            anniversary of the Date of Grant
                                            regarding the Trading Price of the
                                            Shares).

                                 >>         In the event Optionee's Service
                                            terminates by reason of discharge by
                                            the Company without cause or
                                            Optionee terminates his Service for
                                            good reason (whether or not in
                                            connection with a change in control
                                            of the Company), this option shall
                                            vest as provided below and remain
                                            exercisable for three years
                                            following such termination of
                                            Service (subject to the foregoing
                                            condition for exercise before the
                                            seventh anniversary of the Date of
                                            Grant regarding the Trading Price of
                                            the Shares); provided, however,
                                            that, upon the occurrence of a
                                            change in control of the Company
                                            before a termination of Optionee's
                                            Service, this option shall vest as
                                            provided below and remain
                                            exercisable until its normal
                                            expiration date and provided further
                                            that the foregoing condition for
                                            exercise before the seventh
                                            anniversary of the Date of Grant
                                            regarding the Trading Price of the
                                            Shares shall no longer apply (and


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                                            shall be deemed satisfied) upon any
                                            subsequent termination of Optionee's
                                            Service.

                                 For purposes of determining when the foregoing
                                 provisions concerning exercise after
                                 termination of Service apply (including what
                                 events constitute a change in control of the
                                 Company and when a termination of Service is in
                                 connection with a change in control of the
                                 Company), the provisions of Optionee's
                                 Employment Agreement dated as of January 5,
                                 2004 shall apply (even in the event such
                                 agreement has previously expired in accordance
                                 with its terms).

VESTING:              This option shall vest with respect to one-third (1/3) of
                      the Shares subject hereto on each of the first, second and
                      third anniversaries of the Date of Grant, provided that
                      Optionee's Service continues until the date of vesting,
                      except that, if Optionee's Service with the Company
                      terminates (i) by reason of his death or disability, (ii)
                      by reason of discharge by the Company without cause
                      (whether or not in connection with a change in control of
                      the Company) or (iii) by the Optionee for good reason
                      (whether or not in connection with a change in control of
                      the Company), this option shall immediately vest in full
                      upon such earlier termination in Service. In addition, in
                      the event of a change in control of the Company, this
                      option shall immediately vest in full.

                      For purposes of determining when the foregoing provisions
                      concerning acceleration of vesting apply (including what
                      events constitute a change in control of the Company and
                      when a termination of Service is in connection with a
                      change in control of the Company), the provisions of
                      Optionee's Employment Agreement dated as of January 5,
                      2004 shall apply (even in the event such agreement has
                      previously expired in accordance with its terms).

EXPIRATION DATE:      January 5, 2014

OTHER TERMS:          The provisions of Section 12 of the Plan and subsection
                      2(c) of the Stock Option Agreement shall not apply to this
                      option; the provisions of Optionee's Employment Agreement
                      with the Company dated as of January 5, 2004 shall instead
                      apply to any circumstance in which such provisions would
                      otherwise apply.


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By signing your name below, you accept this award and acknowledge and agree that
this award is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of Magellan
Health Services, Inc. 2003 Management Incentive Plan and the related Stock
Option Agreement, reference number 2004-___, both of which are hereby made a
part of this document.


Optionee:


- ------------------------------
Name:


                                        MAGELLAN HEALTH SERVICES, INC.

                                        By:
                                                  ---------------------------

                                        Name:     ___________________________

                                        Title:
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