[Critical evaluation of community psychiatry]

The present study is a critical evaluation on community psychiatry concepts and practice, in a effort to improve it. The authors point basic aspects on social psychiatry through theoretical issues and make the evaluations by the use of three levels: 1st) the sociological level, where they examine revolutionary adjectives and connotations commonly given to community psychiatry and its role as a social control weapon; 2nd) the intermediate level (interaction analysis), where they examine the real contributions, in terms of advancements in patients care and also some therapeutic community-linked aspects; and the 3rd), the intrapsychic level, where they examine inner needs and motivations that may be found in a professional commitment to this field. There are some comments on laymen's work when they are commited with a tradicionaly medical area.