[1] Among European countries, Italy was the first to publicly declare its repugnance for a mental health care system which led to social exclusion and segregation.
[2] The psychiatric reform was also a consequence of a public debate sparked by Giorgio Coda's case and stories collected and analyzed in Alberto Papuzzi's book Portami su quello che canta.
[5] With a group of young physicians not yet influenced by traditional psychiatry —as well as psychologists, volunteers and students— Basaglia started an intense project for the theoretical-practical criticism of the institution of the asylum.
[5] Any form of physical containment and shock therapy was suppressed, the barriers and mesh which had enclosed the wards were removed, doors and gates were opened, compulsory hospitalizations became voluntary and definitive ones were revoked, thus the patients regained their political and civil rights.
Giovanna Russo and Francesco Carelli state that back in 1978 the Basaglia reform perhaps could not be fully implemented because society was unprepared for such an avant-garde and innovative concept of mental health.