[Sociopharmacology--psychoactive drugs as an example]

Psychoactive drugs influence the social behavior of men and primates deeply. Many neuroleptics block the activity of social learning and therefore have an antitherapeutic effect. Sociopharmacology deals with drug effects which have no pharmacological basis: placebo effects, and physician and patient expectations from the drug which may lead to self-fulfillling prophecies. When the physician is prescribing psychoactive drugs he is under numerous influences: the expectations of the patient; the pressure of his therapeutic helplessness in view of many odd illnesses which cannot be explained somatically; his professional obligation to treat the patient; and marketing. The importance of a trusting doctor-patient relationship as a pre-requisite for successful treatment with psychoactive drugs is discussed.