Psychiatric Treatment for Geriatric Patients: "Pub" or Drug?

Forty patients on a geriatric ward were divided into four groups. Three groups received a beverage (beer, fruit punch, or fruit punch with thioridazine) in a pub setup in the hospital; the fourth group received thioridazine on the ward. The group that received beer sociotherapy showed the greatest improvement and had the best attendance and greatest social interaction in the pub. Both groups that received thioridazine showed improvement, but not as much as the first group. The group that received only punch in the pub showed the least change. In view of these findings, the author believes beer sociotherapy deserves a place in the practical treatment of geriatric mental patients.