Beta-adrenergic receptor blocking drugs, although not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of psychiatric disorders, have been used with increasing success in psychiatry. Many beta-blockers are now available, but only those that have high lipid solubility and thus readily penetrate the brain, such as propranolol and oxprenolol, have been investigated in the treatment of a variety of psychiatric syndromes. These syndromes include acute as well as chronic schizophrenia, aggressive disorders, anxiety, and drug-withdrawal reactions.