[Psychiatry and psychiatrists in the U.S.A. cinema]

United States cinema motion pictures from the beginning of 20th century to the present are characterized by massive use of sterotypes to represent psychiatrist's image, as well as psychiatric treatment and inpatients psychiatric facilities. Representation tends to undergo considerable changes between psychiatric different historical periods. Psychiatric disorders also are commonly depicted in movies, often in a not realistic way. The images of psychiatrist and mental disorders shown in movies are likely to impact on the beliefs and attitudes of people towards psychiatry.