From the “Workers' Group” to contemporary psychiatry: the legacy and challenges of psychiatry at the Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen, 1941–2025

Huarcaya-Victoria J.; Cabrejos-Pinto J.; Murillo J.P. · Anales de la Facultad de Medicina (2025) · DOI: 10.15381/anales.v86i4.32060

Resumen

Introduction. The history of psychiatry in peripheral contexts remains underexplored, despite its relevance for understanding the circulation and transformation of care models. The Psychiatry Service of the Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen (HNGAI), founded in 1941 by Carlos Alberto Seguin, represents a unique case in Latin America for having integrated clinical care, teaching, and research under a psychosomatic and social vision. Objective. To analyze the historical and conceptual evolution of the HNGAI Psychiatry Service, its institutional transformations, and epistemological tensions, in light of the social history of medicine and Ludwik Fleck's notion of “thought style.” Methods. Qualitative study based on documentary review, periodical sources, and interviews with key informants. The analysis was organized into four historical stages and interpreted through the frameworks of Fleck (thought collective) and Cueto (scientific excellence in the periphery). Results. Four phases were identified: (1) foundation and consolidation of the integrative model; (2) diversification and institutional crisis; (3) subspecialization and early incorporation of the biomedical paradigm; and (4) consolidation of a research culture and global projection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout its history, HNGAI maintained an integrative thought style that allowed the translation of mind-body-society dilemmas into technical and institutional innovation. Conclusion. The HNGAI case demonstrates that psychiatric innovation can emerge in peripheral contexts as an original form of global knowledge production. However, its sustainability requires institutionalizing research and balancing scientific evidence with clinical humanism, preserving the legacy of the founding collective.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; Universidad Privada San Juan Bautista