The main objective of this study was to investigate if the conceptions and practices in psychology developed at the Centros de Atenção Psicossocial - CAPS (Centers for Psychosocial Attendance), in the State of Espírito Santo, were based on the deinstitutionalization perspective. Nine psychologists who were working at the CAPS in the Espírito Santo State in 2002 were interviewed. The results revealed that the deinstitutionalization concept appears more as an element of a theoretical discussion than as a guide of the practices at the CAPS. The clinical attendance was predominant, with few activities developed by the psychologists who have as main objective to promote interventions in the social field as well as the social re-insertion of the CAPS’ users.
Practices in psychology; mental health; deinstitutionalization