Psychiatric reform in a local context in Brazil: a qualitative analysis

This study focuses on the daily institutional activities in a Center for Psychosocial Care (CAPS), a municipal mental health service in Andradas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study specifically analyzes the social representations by health care professionals regarding the social rehabilitation of their patients, vis-a-vis new proposals approved under the Brazilian psychiatric reform. The study adopts a historical and conjunctural analysis, based on the premise that to evaluate the new process of institutional intervention contributes to both its implementation and improvement. The study also focuses on the stance by health care professionals towards interdisciplinary work and the factors involved in this practice. A qualitative approach was used throughout the study.