The present article consists of a bibliographical research developed with 109 articles published in Brazilian journals classified by CAPES as 'National B' or superior. Of these articles, 33 focused on knowledge and theoretical studies in psychiatric nursing and mental health which were rearranged in the sub-themes: theoretical studies with historical focus (focus in the sheltering model and focus in the transformation of the attendance of psychiatric nursing), participation of the family in the patient's process health-disease, the bearer's of psychic suffering comprehension of him/herself, stigma, use of the results of the research in psychiatric nursing, rethinking of the teaching, research instruments and work in nursing.