The aim of this study was to evaluate how psychosocial care has been developed and put into effect in extra-hospital services providing mental health care, such as the Mental Health Regional Outpatient Service and the Psychosocial Care Center II, both in Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. Semi-structured interviews and focal groups were conducted with 22 health workers. The theoretical framework and data analysis were based on the critical hermeneutic approach. We observed highly technique-oriented actions, a focus on medical-clinical technology at the expense of other therapeutic actions, with an emphasis on the pathology and medication scheme while low priority was given to psychosocial actions in the midst of an ongoing deterioration in labor relations. There is a need to conduct participatory evaluative studies in order to create mechanisms to improve the delivery of care based on the psychosocial care model.
Mental Health; Extra-Hospital Mental Health Services; Psychosocial Care; Psychosocial Rehabilitation