stimulants were popular, often combined with other drugs (old school antipsychotics, barbiturates, etc.) for weight loss, depression, fatigue, etc.

for a while, ritalin was particularly popular. the tca and maoi drugs are kind of harsh, and ritalin was pushed to shrinks as a mild alternative--not as stimulating as the amphetamines, not as potentially toxic and harsh as the tca and maoi drugs. stimulants were (and are, sometimes) also used to help with sedation from antipsychotics.

sorry to go on and on...i have an interest in old ads, and i stumbled on a website w/ lots of old drug ads, targeted to shrinks. its interesting, as a patient, to see how the drugs are somewhat less toxic, easier to tolerate, etc., but...even now, its basically uppers, downers, tranquilizers.

and...im done. :-)