The prescribing of psychotropic drugs in general practice.

Finally, in addition to medical training and drug sales promotion, there are many other factors which influence the general practitioner in his attitudes towards drug therapy. Amongst these are the processes of socialization and professionalization which the young general practitioner undergoes as he moves through his medical training and out into general practice. These are the various agencies amongst which he finds himself at certain identifiable stages in his career. For example, during his pre-registration hospital appointments he learns from other members of the unit on which he works, particularly senior colleagues and nursing staff. During his early years in general practice he comes under the influence of general-practitioner colleagues, consultant colleagues, medical representatives, nurses, patients, and pharmacists. Agencies of continuing influence are consultant colleagues and medical representatives. Medical literature (official and unofficial) and sales promotion of drugs have a continuing effect upon his prescribing throughout his career. His prescribing behaviour is finally determined by the effect of all these influences and the attitudes he develops towards them and towards drug therapy.