THE THERAPEUTIC USE OF PROLONGED SODIUM AMYTAL NARCOSIS

During the past 8 years we have used prolonged sodium amytal narcosis in the treatment of border-line neuropsychiatric disorders. The therapeutic technique is usually so planned as to produce a toxic delirium after the cessation of drug administration. This therapeutic delirium is judged to be reliably restorative and reconstructive. Various degrees of narcoanalysis and narcosynthesis are permitted, but most benefit follows delirious abreaction. All patients to whom the treatment was administered were helped, some more than others. Dissolution of the faulty personality behavior and constructive recasting of the psychiatric problem probably occur through improved physiological rest and a remobilization of thought processes during an irresponsible and impersonal state of psychomotor activity which is temporarily out of volitional control, and is thereafter always reintegrated at a more acceptable level.