Psychotropic drugs in the treatment of chronic pain.

The psychotropic drugs in the treatment of chronic pain have value in several areas. They not only influence the mood of the patient but also provide hypnosis, augment the activity of the analgesics and exhibit analgesic potency in their own right. They may be used alone, or in combination with analgesic agents or with each other. The three most valuable groups are the antidepressants, tranquillizers and anticonvulsants, all of which exert their effect by influencing the intracerebral levels of various neurotransmitter amines.