Benzodiazepines in medical teaching. A survey of university departments of pharmacology, psychiatry, and internal medicine in Germany.
Benzodiazepines are one of the most frequently prescribed classes of medications and by far the biggest class of psychotropic drugs. For years they have been under critical discussion both professionally and in public. The questions arise as to what view is held by university teachers on this topic and how much attention is given to benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine-related problems. Have there been changes in medical teaching in recent years? All the West German departments of psychiatry, internal medicine, and pharmacology were asked by means of a mailed questionnaire to report on their teaching practice. 84.8% of the questionnaires were returned. Results show that mainly psychiatrists and pharmacologists place special emphasis on benzodiazepines in medical teaching. Additionally, in recent years they have devoted more time to this drug class and to related risks in particular. In particular, psychiatrists deal more with benzodiazepines in postgraduate training and the further training of physicians as well as in their scientific research. When the responses of university teachers in psychiatry, internal medicine and pharmacology are summed up, they show that chiefly psychiatrists have responded in their teaching to the current discussion. This contrasts particularly with internists. This has to be discussed in the light of the fact that, in terms of quantity, minor tranquilizers are predominantly prescribed by nonpsychiatrists.
Department of Psychiatry, Free University of Berlin, Germany.
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Gothe
D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education*; D010600:Pharmacology / Q000193:education*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education*
D001569:Benzodiazepines