Innovative practices in Psychiatry. Argentina, 1960-1970

Abstract

The paper analyzes innovative psychiatric practices that took place in Argentina during the sixties and seventies at the Hospital Jose Esteves in the province of Buenos Aires. Objective: To present the coexistence of different paradigms related to mental health in the same institution and to analyze the complexities generated by this scenario. Methodology: This study uses primary sources in the form of medical records of patients admitted to the hospital between 1960 and 1979. The medical records were cross-referenced with publications of newspapers and magazines of the time. Results: The analysis shows that the political environment during the era of military
dictatorship —characterized by ideological persecution and the inhibition of political expression— influenced the development of innovative psychiatric practices. At the same time, instances of
anti-Semitism and ideological persecution among health workers affected therapeutic approaches. Conclusions: While the introduction of innovative practices in mental health led to some
resistance among the more orthodox psychiatrists, the presence of different paradigms shows a plan, both political and professional, to transform psychiatry and admission policy in Argentina.