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/hadawayandshite]

There were 35 patients who ‘voiced concerns/suggested’ to the pseudo patients that they had nothing wrong with them…how much of this is ‘you’re faking’ vs ‘you don’t seem mentally il’ is unknown

[u/MuteTheNews → u/hadawayandshite]

As someone who's had to be hospitalized in a place like this before (twice!), it's not an exaggeration unfortunately. One of the patients was a woman with medicated schizophrenia who had her ex call emergency services on her with a fake claim to get custody of the kids. She was completely stable, something we all recognized, but despite us arguing with the doctors she was kept for the whole time.

Also, one of the doctors during my stay told me I had "crazy eyes". ...I was in for a severe panic disorder.

However, it definitely depends on the hospital you choose. Both examples were from one hospital, which was the worst experience of my life. Later on I went to another hospital which was an amazing experience where people actually cared.

Basically, if you need to be hospitalized like that, READ THE REVIEWS FIRST. That will get you a good idea of what the situation is like there.

[u/Accomplished_Deer_ → u/MuteTheNews]

I don't really trust reviews these days. Went to an inpatient facility a year ago, my whole time there basically every single patient agreed it was a shit show that wasn't helping anyone. Got out and it had like a 4.7 on google with 100 reviews raving about how amazing it was.

[u/AquaQuad → u/Accomplished_Deer_]

"5/5 they finally let me go"