Martyrs of the psychiatric hospitals

Abstract

This article is based on the history of an Italian psychiatric hospital (Arezzo) that closed in 1989 and was turned into a university. The illegal and inhumane treatment in asylum-type institutions is condemned. In particular the treatment of those patients who, according to the analysis, hospital directors referred to as “social cases.” These individuals did not stay in hospital because of health problems but only due to the lack of social care by the state. AS a consequence they are condemned to be “prisoners” without committing any crimes.

Keywords

• special psychiatric hospitals
• institutionalization
• deinstitutionalization
• social services
• law on the protection of persons with mental disorders