[Pro and contra: psychotherapy and psychopharmacotherapy attitude of the public]

Abstract

As shown by the results of a representative survey carried out in the FRG in 1990, psychotherapy is much favoured over psychotropic drug treatment by the lay public. This holds similarly for the treatment of schizophrenia, depression, and panic disorder. The decision in favour of psychotherapy is primarily motivated by the assumption that this treatment modality provides an opportunity for personal exchange and that it will be carried out by a competent therapist. The lays' beliefs about psychotherapy are rather global. They are very much influenced by the social representations of psychoanalysis as a method that treats the cause of the problem. The knowledge of psychotropic drugs, as well, is rather unprecise. Their image is mostly determined by that of the tranquilizers as drugs with a high risk of dependency and a primarily sedative effect.