DRUGS, NEUROSIS AND THE FAMILY PHYSICIAN

Many of the milder emotional disturbances, especially those which manifest themselves by vague physical symptoms, can be treated by physicians who are not psychiatrists. The stronger tranquilizing drugs, such as chlorpromazine, are not suited for most non-psychotic patients. If a patient is sick enough to require chlorpromazine, he should be referred to a psychiatrist. The newer antidepressant drugs are also mainly for severely depressed patients, and they also need a psychiatrist's care. There are many patients, however, who will respond to a mild tranquilizer, such as meprobamate, plus 10 to 20 minutes of discussion with the physician. Those who do not show definite improvement within ten interviews should be referred for psychiatric consultation. Most of the beneficial effects of drugs in non-psychotic patients are related to the attention and interest of the physician who prescribes them, and he should always take a few minutes to discuss the patient's problems with him.