The aim of this study was to characterize the matrix support implementation as a coordination instrument between Mental Health and primary care, identifying its weaknesses and strengths. It is an Integrative Review, in which we selected some articles indexed in PubMed, besides NLM, and VHL, which provides the access to LILACS, MEDLINE and IBECS databases, from 1999 to 2013, in Portuguese, English and Spanish. The sample included 21 articles and the analysis allowed the identification of two categories: 1) aspects that hinder support matrix, and 2) aspects that potentiate the matrix support. The results brought out that: 24% of texts showed only positive aspects of the matrix support implementation; 28.5% showed only the results that hinder the execution; and 47.5% of the articles addressed both aspects. The publications revealed that, although there are aspects that preclude its achievement, matrix support, when properly used, is an important tool for the dialogue between Mental Health and primary care.
mental health; mental health services; primary health care