[Society before and after the introduction of psychotropic drugs for therapeutic use]

In spite of a part of unavoidable subjectivity, it seems that the use of antidepressive, anxiolytic and hypnotic agents has increased over the past years, but with a certain recent stabilization in the consumption of benzodiazepines. A slipping towards the medicalization of problems yet principally social is generally admitted. The following factors are specially considered: the type of request of the person, often dominated by a behaviour of "relieved" people; the medical answers, frequently marked with a preferential if not exclusive rest on the chemical molecule; the financial limitations imposed by the national level, very probable indirect origin of changes in the medical status and role, therefore of distortions concerning the therapeutic relation; a contrario, marketing phenomena involved in large economic challenges. In front of that conflict situation, we must hope for a keeping of the liberty of exercise of the physician, for the benefit of the patient.