Effectiveness and processes of interviewing with drugs

A triple-blind study was made on forty-nine patients in regard to differences between sodium amobarbital, hydroxydione, methamphetamine and saline when used in psychiatric interviews. The drugs were found to differ from each other and from the placebo in their effects upon patients' speech, direction of attention and on anxiety. Other factors studied were not differentially affected by the drugs and placebo. Observers were able to identify correctly the drugs from observations, but two of the drugs, hydroxydione and sodium amobarbital, were often indistinguishable. Significant differences between judges' abilities to identify the drugs were also observed. Reports of the patients 24 h after the interviews reflected several significant differences between the drugs and placebo in changes in subjective feelings and attitudes. Such changes were reported more often with methamphetamine and sodium amobarbital than with hydroxydione or placebo. Implications of the study were discussed and suggestions for further research given.