The Psychiatric Quarterly

, Volume 31, Issue 1–4, pp 445–453 | Cite as

Rauwolfia serpentina in the control of anxiety

  • Paul Lowinger


  1. 1.

    The effectiveness of Rauwolfia serpentina drugs in the control of overt anxiety in ambulatory psychiatric patients is equal to that of a conventional treatment of anxiety, as shown in a study of matched patient groups.

  2. 2.

    Three forms of Rauwolfia, reserpine, alseroxylon and the whole crude root, gave the same results in the control of overt anxiety in ambulatory patients.

  3. 3.

    Techniques for the clinical use of the Rauwolfia drugs are reported.

  4. 4.

    A wide variety of minor toxic symptoms in the use of Rauwolfia drugs was noted and easily controlled.

  5. 5.

    Depressive symptoms are not altered by Rauwolfia drugs given at the quantity and duration levels of this study.



Depressive Symptom Personality Disorder Reserpine Moderate Decrease Control Group Treatment 


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Copyright information

© The Psychiatric Quarterly 1957

Authors and Affiliations

  • Paul Lowinger
    • 1
  1. 1.Lafayette Clinic and Wayne State University College of MedicineDetroit

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