ABSTRACTThe available information system in Italy does not allow to adequately evaluate the change in patterns of hospitalization that have taken place after the 1978 Mental Health Act came into force. There are huge differences among Northern and Southern Italy and inside these areas. On average, the reduction of public psychiatric hospitals activity had begun around 70′s. People living in these hospitals at the census day January 1st were about 75,000 in the first years of the 70′s, were 58,000 in 1977 and further decreased to 38,000 in 1981 (67.6 per 100,000 total population). This decrease was not counterbalanced either by private psychiatric hospitals, or by the newly opened Psychiatric Departments in general hospitals. Scant or no information is available on intermediate facilities, and on follow‐up of discharged inpat