The course of a mental disease is influenced by a multitude of social factors modifying the necessity and efficiency of treatment via drugs, e.g. neuroleptics. The influence of overriding social factors on the course of a disease is demonstrated, employing schizophrenic diseases as an example: Unemployment increases the admission rate of schizophrenics; schizophrenias take a more favourable course in developing countries than in industrialised countries; in the latter category, rural districts are more favourable than the urban regions with major cities. In acute schizophrenia, the healing process is promoted by a clear-cut and well structurised therapeutic environment in the hospital, whereas a loosely knit and permissive environment delays the curative process. Social factors are particularly important in prophylactic neuroleptic long-term treatment designed to prevent relapses; in this connection, special attention is drawn to the importance of emotionalism governing the attitude and behaviour of family members. These social factors influencing the course of the disease make it necessary to supplement drug treatment by suitable measures in the fields of psychotherapy and sociotherapy.