Electroconvulsive therapy: historical construction of nursing care (1989-2002).

OBJECTIVE

to describe the nursing care performed by the nursing team to the person with mental disorder submitted to ECT and to analyze the implications of the Psychiatric Reform in this care.

METHOD: socio-historical study, which uses the Thematic Oral History method.

RESULTS

the nursing team is present in a continuous way in the monitoring of people submitted to ECT, performing care before, during and after the same, as well as visualizing the evolution of the technique and also of nursing care itself, however, does not recognize the Psychiatric Reform as agent for this change.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: the Brazilian Psychiatric Reform triggered a process of humanization of nursing knowledge, influencing the care of the person with mental disorder submitted to ECT, with this, care practices also changed, a law was approved, regulating its practice, and its application was decreasing.