Using mathematical models described by Overall, the authors investigated in a sample of 301 psychiatric inpatients the therapeutic stereotypes in medicating psychotropic drugs and its dependence on symptom, syndrome and diagnostic level. The psycho-tropic drugs were described in a dimensional representation of psychopathology (‘symptomatic space’). Besides dependency from patient’s characteristics as age and clinician’s characteristics as special orientation, the therapeutic stereotype is mostly influenced by the symptom level. Only lithium therapy and electroconvulsive therapy are keyed to diagnosis. Getting more familiar with a psychotropic drug increases indications and contraindications on symptom level, the therapeutic stereotype gets more differentiated. The comparison between the therapeutic stereotypes of German and French psychiatrists shows a satisfactory congruence relating to dimensionality and relationships among the drugs.