[The role of mental health during the first attempts to transform psychiatric care in Spain].

This article analyzes the role of mental health in the definition of a new model of psychiatric care, which incorporated principles of prophylaxis and public health, and was intended to replace the previous paradigm of confinement. We study the main theoretical and organizational proposals that arose in Spain during the 1920's, both in Catalonia and in Madrid, and also investigate the major piece of related legislation, which was included in the Second Republic's attempts at psychiatric reform.