The authors review the history and current uses of the amytal interview. This technique was quite popular over 50 years ago when it began, but has been ignored for the past ten years. A clinical case of mutism is described in this research to illustrate the usefulness of the amytal interview. In this particular case, the narcosis has permitted the uncovering of delusions and consequently the administration of the appropriate treatment.
References
1.
NaplesM, HackettTP. The amytal interview: history and current uses. Psychosomatics1978; 19: 99–105.
2.
PerryJC, JacobsD.Overview: clinical applications of the amytal interview in psychiatric emergency settings. Am J Psychiatry1982; 139: 552–559.
3.
BleckweenWJ. Production of sleep and rest in psychotic cases. Arch Neur Psychiat1930; 24: 365–372.
4.
TilkinL.The present status of narcosynthesis using sodium pentothal and sodium amytal. Dis Nerv Syst1949; 10: 215–218.
5.
LindemannE.Psychological changes in normal and abnormal individuals under the influence of sodium amytal. Am J Psychiatry1932; 88: 1083–1091.
6.
HorsleyJS. Narcoanalysis. Lancet1936; 1: 55.
7.
SargantW, SlaterE.Acute war neuroses. Lancet1940; 2: 1.
8.
GrinkerRR, SpiegelJP. Men under stress.Philadelphia PA: Blakiston, 1945: 170–171.
9.
GrinkerRR, SpiegelJP. Brief psychotherapy in war neuroses. J Psychosom Med1944; 6: 123.
10.
AdamsEG. Narcoanalysis in private practice. Dis Nerv Syst1945; 6: 343.
11.
FreedH.Narcosynthesis for the civilian neuroses. Psychiatr Q1946; 20: 39.
12.
HochPH. The present status of narcodiagnosis and therapy. J Nerv Ment Dis1946; 103: 248–259.
13.
BakerS.Military psychiatry. In: FreedmanA, KaplanH, SadokB, eds. Comprehensive textbook of psychiatry, second edition, Baltimore MD: Williams & Wilkins Co.,1975: 2355–2367.
14.
BleckweenWJ. Narcosis as therapy in neuropsychiatric conditions. JAMA1930; 95: 1168–1176.
15.
SargantW, SlaterE.An introduction to physical methods of treatment in psychiatry, fifth edition. New York: Science House, 1972.
16.
WoodruffR.The diagnostic use of amylobarbital interview among patients with psychotic illness. Br J Psychiatry1966; 112: 727–732.
17.
WeinsteinEA, KahnRL, SugarmanLA, The diagnostic use of amobarbital sodium (amytal sodium) in brain disease. Am J Psychiatry1953; 109: 889–894.
18.
WeinsteinEA, MalitzS.Changes in symbolic expression with amytal sodium. Am J Psychiatry1954; 111: 198–206.
19.
GrinkerR, SpiegelJP. War neuroses.Philadelphia PA: Blakiston, 1945.
20.
LudwigAM. Hysteria: a neurobiological theory. Arch Gen Psychiatry1972; 27: 771–777.
StevensonD, BurkmanJ, SmithB, The use of drugs in psychiatric interviews: some interpretations based on controlled experiments. Am J Psychiatry1974; 131: 707–710.