Objective: To historically analyze psychiatric nursing teaching at the Universidade Federal de Alagoas from 1976 to 1981.
Methods: Qualitative study; social-historical approach employing Thematic Oral History based on the documentary sources and testimonials from nurses, students, professors, and professionals at the psychiatric hospital where these practices occurred. The study researched World, Brazil, and Alagoas history and the Curricular Guidelines for Nursing for the history comprehension and used Erving Goffman's concepts as a theoretical reference.