title: [The spirit of the law and the laws of the spirit: the evolution of Brazilian legal thought in the realm of mental health].
abstract: The article explores the evolution of the Brazilian republic's laws and norms on mental illness during three periods. The first (1890-1910) saw the topic of mental pathology introduced into the State's realm of interest, with the main concern being to recognize and preserve the rights of those displaying such pathologies. During this period, mental alterations were understood in terms of neuropathology. The following period (1911-1945) saw expansion of government initiatives, with the same concerns as the previous period. The interpretation of mental illness did not undergo any major changes, although it broadened in scope. Marked by a discontinuity in relation to previous times, Brazil's developmentalist period (1946-1982) saw an economic developmentalist spirit hold sway, underpinned by humanist thought of conservative propensity. It brought a vigorous growth in the number of Brazilian hospitals, while interest in protecting the mentally ill continued.
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Pesquisa de Alcool e Drogas (Uniad)/Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), Rua Joaquim Floriano, 871, cj.124, 04534-013 São Paulo, SP, Brasil. messas@netpoint.com.br
authors.forename: Guilherme Peres
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Messas
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000266:history; D006801:Humans; D007883:Legislation, Medical / Q000266:history*; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000266:history* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence