Abstract

Advanced medical students' attitude to psychotropic drugs is more positive than the lay public's view on that subject (see part I). The question arises if this is a result of the psychiatric and psychopharmacological knowledge students have acquired during their medical education or an effect of selection by which students already have a more positive opinion of psychotropic drugs before the commencement of their medical education. Our survey in three differently advanced groups of medical students (n = 323) was carried out with a questionnaire. In contrast to their scepticism concerning psychopharmacological treatment students in the beginning of their medical education estimate others than psychotropic drugs ly than the lay public. This may be explained by a beginning identification with the model of a quickly and effectively treating doctor. In the course of medical and especially psychiatric and psychopharmacological education, there is a tendency to a more differentiated and positive view on the effects of psychotropic drugs although the generally critical attitude persists.