In summary, the psychotropic drugs
show considerable promise as adjuncts in
the control of cancer pain. Although certain
ones may have analgesic activity, this
remains, with a single exception, unproved.
Consequently, they should generally be
used along with and not as substitutes for
the narcotics. At this time it is difficult to
justify the combined use of antipsychotic
and antidepressant drugs. Although such
combinations may broaden the spectrum
of drug effects, they also increase the
potential for unwanted effects and complicate
the clinical evaluation of individual
drugs. Controlled trials establishing
the value of various psychotropic
agents in the control of cancer pain and
comparing their efficacy are urgently
needed.