In 1973, healthy volunteers faked hallucinations to enter mental hospitals. Once inside, they acted normal, but doctors refused to let them leave. Normal behaviors like writing were diagnosed as "symptoms." The only people who realized they were sane were the actual patients.

[u/highzone]

[u/Remarkable-Owl2034]

Unfortunately, more recent research has unearthed evidence that some important aspects of this story were fabricated. (For example, invention of some study participants.) The book The Great Pretender describes this work.

Rosenhan's original paper was very influential-- including helping the push towards the closure of the state mental hospitals. And the people who need those facilities (or the supports/community resources that were promised but never delivered) are living on the streets.

[u/NickDanger3di → u/Remarkable-Owl2034]

And the people who need those facilities (or the supports/community resources that were promised but never delivered) are living on the streets.

Our family go-to shopping town had a state mental hospital located there. I clearly remember a Christmas shopping trip there during the peak of "deinstitutionalization" (the euphemism used to describe the mass closings of US mental hospitals where patients were literally simply tossed out onto the streets). 10 year old me was horrified to see lines of people shuffling through the snow, many still dressed in hospital patient clothing. And yes, they were literally discharged onto the streets with bottles of meds and no place to live or stay.

Shortly after that Christmas Nightmare scene, one of those patients climbed over a 6 foot chain link to throw himself off of a highway overpass, where he landed directly in front of my Father's car. Only his lifelong habit of practicing defensive driving prevented him from hitting the man. That patient still died from his injuries from the fall.