Of 140 patients (P) 123 P (88%) were "legally" dependent on tramadol (51% f, 49 m), 17 P (12.%) "illegally" dependent (54% f, 47% m). The ages of "legally" dependent P were: 20-30J: 7%; 30-40J: 16% ; 40-50J: 24%; 50-60J: 21%; 60-70J: 19%; 70-80J: 14%. In the group of "legally dependent" patients 20% were medical staff (16% nurses, 4% medical doctors), and 16% had academic professions; 19% reported an addiction disease of the parents (mostly of alcohol), 16% another psychiatric disease of the parents. 75% of the "legally" dependent patients suffered from depression, 40 % had performed suicidal trial(s), 53% have had a somatic disease before the intake of tramadol, 17% after the treatment of tramadol dependence. 69% suffered from pain before intake of tramadol (22% disc/ back, 15% megrim/ head, 5% tooth, maxillary sinus, 6% pancreas, 4% legs, 2 % abdomen, bile), 22% had no experience of pain before first intake of tramadol. 76% of the pain-patients were also ill with depression. Seizures were documented in 23% of all patients with tramadol dependence/withdrawal as cause.

Pain, depression and pain, somatic diseases, previous addiction diseases, psychiatric family history, being a member of medical staff increase the risk to develop dependence to prescribed tramadol. Tramadol dependent patients show a high rate of suicidal trials and of seizures. Different therapies are under evaluation. Data will be discussed with respect to pathophysiological principles of analgesic and addiction effects of opioids.