[Neuroleptics in the newspaper. A mass media analysis].
OBJECTIVE
Neuroleptic drugs have a dubious public reputation. Many people consider them obnoxious, even in schizophrenia.


METHODS
10 annual editions of six German language opinion leading newspapers are analysed.


RESULTS
Only in one of 35 articles neuroleptics are judged positive, in 27 negative. They are seen close to violence and restriction, as punishment or even as torture, as paralyzing or even as "torturetherapy". Informations in the articles are scarce. Most of the articles cover the fields of medicine or psychiatry or of forensics.


CONCLUSIONS
Apart from the negative attitude the extremely low number of articles on neuroleptics is the most outstanding result of our study.
Hoffmann-Richter
U
U
Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Basel.
Wick
F
F
Alder
B
B
Finzen
A
A
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005858:Germany; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D011639:Public Opinion; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013557:Switzerland
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents