[Beta receptor blocking agents in psychiatry (author's transl)].

The effects of beta receptor blocking agents in various psychiatric indications have been investigated during the last decade. The results are summarised and discussed. A final judgement of the value of beta blocking agents within the complete psychopharmacological treatment is, at present, not yet possible. They appear to have a certain therapeutic effect depending on the peripheral beta receptor blockade, at least on functional psycho- and neurovegetative cardial and circulatory disturbances as well as on anxiety states, neurotic and those caused by stress, both of these presenting primarily somatic symptoms. In other cases the results, as they now stand, present some very interesting features for further investigation.