[Child psychiatric clientele and treatment with psychotropic drugs by established physicians in a rural small town area].

Questionnaires were sent to 214 country and small town physicians. Most of the responding physicians reported that they see and treat a substantial number of children with child psychiatric disorders, prescribing psychopharmacological agents about 16% of the time. 40 percent said they prescribe such drugs, whereas 42% said they do not, and 18% expressly rejected such drugs for children. Bedwetting, sleep problems, behavior disorders and hyperactivity were the problems most frequently treated with drugs, most commonly with neuroleptic agents. Parental expectations appear to have had a direct influence on physician prescribing behavior: The stronger these expectations, the more often the physician prescribed drugs. Physician interest in continuing education courses on psychopharmacological treatment was great. The survey results are compared with those of a similar study conducted in Hamburg in 1979 and some problems associated with drug treatment in child psychiatry discussed.