Citation

Eikelenboom-Schieveld SJM, Fogleman JC
In: Handbook of Anger, Aggression, and Violence. Martin C, Preedy VR, Patel VB; eds. (2022). Cham: Springer International Publishing, 1-27 pages.

DOI

10.1007/978-3-030-98711-4_24-1

URL

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98711-4_24-1

ISBN

978-3-030-98711-4

Abstract

Psychotropic drugs were developed through serendipity. In Europe in the 1900s, promethazine was used to treat circulatory shock, when a French surgeon noticed patients on promethazine became calm and somnolent. From there, chlorpromazine, reserpine, and the benzodiazepines made their entry. These drugs were considered symptomatic treatments and were used irrespective of any underlying psychiatric diagnosis. Gradually, the idea took hold that these drugs were treating certain disorders instead of just sedating patients.

Language: en