[Bromazepam in the treatment of somatized psychogenic disorders (author's transl)]

The clinical effects are reported of the benzodiazepine derivative, bromazepam (Lexotanil) in the treatment of psychosomatic disorders in the course of neurotic, psychovegetative, and masked depressive syndromes. The drug was administered orally in 301 patients (178 males, and 123 females). Target symptoms were anxiety, tension, and varied organic dysfunction of psychogenic origin. The optimum daily dosage was three times 3 mg; the duration of treatment ranged from 1 week to 34 months. The effect of treatment was considered excellent in 51.5%, good in 42.5%, moderate in 2%, and absent in 4%. The most responsive target symptoms were psychogenic disorders of the cardiovascular system and of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as anxiety, while no true antidepressive effect was observed. Drug tolerance is excellent. Slight fatigue, vertigo or a mild reduction in psychomotor activity were complained of by about 10% of the patients and usually occurred with daily doses of 18 mg or more, whereas no other side effects were observed. There was no obvious tendency to drug dependence even after after long-term treatment of up to 34 months. Bromazepam appears to be a superior compound to other anxiolytic and psychovegetatively active minor tranquillisers on account of its mild hypnotic action. Its anxiolytic effect causes additional indirect sleep induction in the above-mentioned conditions.