The authors present some results of an ongoing research on the introduction of psychoactive drugs in Portugal during the 1950’s.

This study analyses medical papers published in the 1950s on the issue of psychoactive drugs in Portugal. Our research focused on some of the main medical journals and articles published by some of the most important Portuguese psychiatrists. Discussions on the validity of psychoactive drugs and the introduction of psychoactive drugs in therapy are analysed.

We aim at contributing to the history of psychoactive drugs in therapy, as well as to the history of psychoactive drug reception in Portugal and its relation with the problem of deinstitutionalization.

Qualitative documental analysis of medical papers published in Portuguese general medicine journals, such as A Medicina C-rânea, O Médico, Jornal do Médico, as well as in some specialized psychiatry journals. Systematization of confronting arguments. The introduction of psychoactive drugs in Portugal underwent several discussions on their validity, efficacy, safety and effects in the process of patient deinstitutionalization.

In Portugal, the reception of psychoactive drugs proceeded quickly after its industrialization, and was accompanied by some theoretical discussions. In the beginning of the 1960s, the use of psychoactive drugs is clearer and discussions are less divergent.