The role of psychopharmacotherapy in the development of social psychiatry in Germany

: Early experiences and indications are reported that psychopharmacotherapy, particularly as prophylactic long-term medication for prevention of relapses, has led to an increased recognition of social determinants of the course of illness, especially in schizophrenic patients. As a result, institutions combining both social and psychopharmacological treatment have developed, e. g., in Berlin beginning with "Phonix" a transition home ("Ubergangsheim") in 1956 to a catamnesis for long-term outpatient treatment of schizophrenic patients in 1957, a social service in 1960, a day and night hospital in 1962 up to a university department of social psychiatry in 1972 with a rich spectrum of facilities for a step by step rehabilitation of mentally ill patients. In comparison with well-known humanistic sources of German psychiatric reform, some less well-known sources based on psychopharmacotherapeutic experiences that need further historical elaboration are considered. Questions include: 1. how psychiatric pharmacotherapy has influenced the development of social psychiatry in Germany, 2. whether the pioneering spirit of the 1950s, initiated by new treatment with psychotropic drugs has influenced or fostered the development of social psychiatry in Germany, 3. whether retardation of the development of social psychiatry in Germany (as opposed to England, France, and Canada and possibly related to its post-war international isolation) has been overcome not least by the new scientific development of psychopharmacology that has encouraged renewal of international contacts. In any case the possible influence of psychopharmacotherapy should not be missing in an overall view of the development of social psychiatry in Germany.