Pharmacotherapeutic evaluation and the psychiatric setting.

Once again we are immersed in a period of intense interest in pharmacotherapy in psychiatry. The recent advent of chlorpromazine, reserpine, pipradrol (Meratran) and its derivatives, meprobamate (Miltown), etc., has catalyzed interest in the field, and our specialty journals are filled with enthusiastic reports. Physicians in diverse medical specialties frequently prescribe these drugs to patients with almost any variety of affective component in their symptom pattern. Such an intensely hopeful response once again reflects the unfulfilled therapeutic needs of the psychiatric profession, which potentiate the hope of quick closure for many problems. It is natural to empathize with those persons responsible for therapeutic programs in our state hospitals when they become enthusiastic over a new type of therapy. They have the greatest needs and the largest immediate responsibility of the profession. At present, as a group, they are very enthusiastic about the new drugs, and this is of profound social