This qualitative research investigates the impact of a legal change concerning the treatment of mental patients in the practice of psychologists in Brasília, Brazil. The interview analysis is based on the concept of role developed by J. L. Moreno and compares the individual and collective dimensions of psychologists who work in public and private mental institutions. The differences between private and public psychologists' discourses are attributed to the collective dimensions regarding their professional culture. Considering these results we discuss the obstacles to the effective implementation of the new law and the university participation in the continuous education of psychologists.
Psychology; Mental health; Mental patients' rights; Institutions