The authors found that among 228 general hospital patients, minor
tranquilizers were prescribed most often and with the least justification
and that major tranquilizers were prescribed sparingly and by and large
judiciously. Antidepressants were given less often than would be justified
by the incidence of depressive illness among these patients. Nonrecognition
of depression in patients with somatic complaints and autonomic signs of
depression contributed to this lack of treatment.
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