Psychotropic prescribing. What am I doing?

A descriptive survey of five weeks' psychotropic prescribing by one general practitioner is presented. Out of 1,543 total contacts, 330 had, by defined criteria, a significant psychological problem. A total of 25 different psychotropic drugs were given to 231 different patients. A number of recommendations for change are suggested to provide a more rational pattern of prescribing.