[Psychotropic drugs].

With the introduction of the antipsychotic compound Chlorpromazine in the early 1950s began the era of psychotropic drugs. These include a large number of different classes of compounds. They have been clearly demonstrated to be more effective than placebo in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Anxiolytic and hypnotic drugs are the most commonly prescribed agents. In the past decade many new antidepressants and antipsychotics with a more favorable side-effect profile have been introduced onto the market, and have dramatically widened our possibilities to improve the course of the various psychiatric disorders. The administration of psychotropic drugs is primarily syndrome-related. So far, specific causal therapy is not available.