Relatives, mental health professionals and otherness of madness

Abstract

This study aims to understand the relationship of family and mental health professionals with the otherness of madness and discuss its potential impact on the actions of attention and care to people with psychological distress. In qualitative research perspective, family members from two centers for psychosocial care and mental health professionals from these institutions were interviewed. A thematic content analysis indicated discursive regularities that delineated four categories: (1) terms and ideas associated with madness; (2) madness conceived as missing; (3) different behavior and diagnosis; (4) madness, mental illness and control. The results show that, in the professional vision, madness falls short in relation to an idealized mental health model. Therefore, they seek to classify and control its manifestations. Family members do not believe in possibilities and means to your family with psychological distress, associating it with the disability and try to control it as a way to deal with otherness.