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It’s a descriptive-qualitative research study carried out at a psychiatric hospital in Paraná State/ Brazil fromFebruary to May/2007. It aimed: to apprehend how nurses deliver mental health nursing care to patients admitted in apsychiatric hospital. Seven nurses participated in the research study; data were collected by means of a semi-structuredinterview and categorized as follows: nurses’ daily practice; nursing care delivered to patients and family members;nursing care related to patients’ autonomy; nurses’ disqualification for mental health care. Data disclosed diversifiedactivities performed by nurses, however, administrative ones prevail. Patients’ direct care or their families’ is less emphasized.It is concluded that care systematization is deemed necessary for a more effective practice as well as ongoing educationfocusing on knowledge, ultimately interpersonal relationship

Mental health treatment means and stigmas assigned to the mental disorders bearers are subject matters for analysis and discussion in the healthcare area. Aiming to deeply study in this matter, a documental research has been conducted with the purpose of analyzing treatment means set forth in the federal laws related to mental health in Brazil, from its discovery until 1934. Sixteen Decrees were accessed, forming the primary sources for this study, after survey of Parana State Public Library’s Laws collection as well as of Health Ministry’s website. Sources were discussed according to three time axis applied to Brazil’s history : Colonial Brazil, Imperial Brazil and Republican Brazil: starting in 1889. The findings ascertain that the studied period was formed by series of treatments evidenced by isolation, repressive therapies which had a barbarian approach towards the mentally disordered individual. Descriptors: Legislation; Mental Health; Psychiatry.