Abstract

VENTURINI, Ernesto. Opportunities and limits of deinstitutionalization. Rev. bras. crescimento desenvolv. hum. [online]. 2010, vol.20, n.1, pp. 138-151. ISSN 0104-1282.

The meaning of "cure" in medicine is examined, in order to understand how such a concept determines different models of deinstitutionalization. "To cure" means both to treat and to take care of. These two terms are intertwined, and their values and shortcomings are highlighted. As example of the dialectic between these concepts it's considered the difficulty to overcome in Italy the Criminal Mental Hospitals. These hospitals weren't closed after the mental health reform, because they were under the authority of Ministry of Justice. Today this situation is changing and the Community Mental Health Centres are involved in taking care of criminal mental health patients. But only the centres that practise the model of "take care" are able to take this responsibility. Nevertheless the Author considers that it's really possible to overcome the mental health stigma, if only it will abrogate the concept of "un-imputableness" for mental patients.

Keywords : care; to take care; mental health un-imputability; deinstitutionalization; criminal mental hospitals.

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