The purpose of this paper is to indicate the occurrence, importance and evolution of the scientific investigation related to the process of the psychiatric reform, which has been taking place in Brazil for the last two decades. Based on the sample from data found at LILACS (Latin-American Literature on Health Science), on traced the trends and characteristics of the published material from the periodon in which deep changes related to the practice and the discourse that permeate the field of mental health in Brazil occured.
scientific production; journals; mental health; psychiatric reform; deinstitutionalization