To implement and to guarantee basic rights to the sufferers of mental disorders are some of conditions required by the psychiatric reform . Although considered citizens-with rights , the brazilian criminal and civil codes still consider them incapable and dangerous. By consulting specific literature on the subject, it was possible to highlight concepts and practices about insanity since the Antiquity up to the actual conflicts between reform formulations and the Brazilian Civil and Criminal codes. In conclusion we call attention to the increasing necessity of training professionals aware of these conflicts and willing to fight for the reformulation of codes and practices as to assure the rights of these citizens.
Psychiatric reform; Rights; Madness; Insanity