SOCIETY BEFORE AND SINCE INTRODUCTION OF PSYCHOTROPIC AGENTS FOR THERAPEUTIC USE

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