Reflections on the psychiatric reform and the (re) construction of public policies

Abstract

This is a reflexive study based on the analysis of 32 papers found in LILACS and MEDLINE databases. It aims to describe the contributions of the Psychiatric Reform and the National Mental Health Policies to the knowledge and existent practices, and to discuss the progresses and impasses evidenced in the articulation of health services and in the interdisciplinarity of the multiprofessional teams' actions. There were advances in the construction of new services network and in the promotion of practices based on the reform principles. However, such achievements faced political-administrative and economic obstacles as well as others referent to the formation of the body of professionals involved in the area. Even though there are several dissonances, the study was directed to subjects and experiences that corroborate the Brazilian Psychiatric Reform precepts and it may work as an on-going reflection on the (re) construction of knowledge/ practice in mental health.