[Epidemiology and space of the therapeutic project]

The author suggests an analysis of the evolution of psychiatry referring to space concepts, according to three stages. In the first one, the topographical space is represented by the asylum and the nosography, which both bound a closed field. The second stage represents the dynamical space of therapeutic institution which refers to the psycho-analytical and sociological concepts. The third stage opens a space of meaning; it refers to the concept of sector, to the process of deinstitutionalization and to the epidemiological field; it tries to surround some projects linked with the notions of mental health and prevention.