[Pain from the viewpoint of psychiatrists]

Analgetics are not to be substituted by psychotropic drugs without criticism when it has been found that painful physical ailments are of psychic cause. On the contrary, in individual cases it should be investigated whether a depressive psychosis exists which is better treated with anti-depressants, or whether a schizophrenic psychosis exists which should be treated with neuroleptic drugs, if necessary, above the neuroleptic threshold. In cases of neurotic disbehaviour the question of how far tranzuilizers only lead to an artificial solution of problems should be examined, so that psychotherapy has precedence. In cases where long-term treatment with tranquilizing drugs is necessary, precedence should be given to the neuroleptics, applied below the neuroleptic threshold, over the pure tranquilizer with regard to the danger of abuse. In any case, when treating painful conditions the whole personality with its affective resonance to pains and diseases is to be considered.