The role of prescriptions in therapy.

The aim of the present study was that of discovering whether the prescription of drugs displaces other forms of therapy. The method adopted was that of behavior simulation. Doctors were requested to provide therapeutic proposals regarding a standard set of patient cases described in questionnaires sent to them. These cases were formulated in such a way that in the author's opinion they could easily, and perhaps best, be treated without drugs. Nevertheless, most of the cases were treated with drugs, thereby indicating the important role of drug therapy as a means of treatment. In particular, psychic disturbances were often treated by drugs. Frequently, drugs represented the only treatment offered, and no alternative form of treatment was suggested.