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Effectiveness and processes of interviewing with drugs
J D Hain1, B M Smith, I Stevenson
1Psychiatry Department, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
Journal of Psychiatric Research
|December 26, 2009
Summary
This study compared sodium amobarbital, hydroxydione, and methamphetamine against a placebo in psychiatric interviews, finding significant differences in patient speech, attention, and anxiety. Methamphetamine and sodium amobarbital notably altered subjective feelings post-interview.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Psychiatric interviews often utilize various pharmacological agents to aid patient communication and therapeutic outcomes.
- Understanding the differential effects of these agents on patient state and observer perception is crucial for effective clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare the effects of sodium amobarbital, hydroxydione, and methamphetamine against a saline placebo in psychiatric interviews.
- To assess the impact of these substances on patient speech, attention, anxiety, and subjective feelings.
- To evaluate the observers' ability to distinguish between the administered agents.
Main Methods:
- A triple-blind study involving forty-nine patients.
- Administration of sodium amobarbital, hydroxydione, methamphetamine, and a saline placebo during psychiatric interviews.
- Systematic observation of patient speech, attention, and anxiety levels.
- Post-interview patient self-reports on subjective feelings and attitudes at 24 hours.
Main Results:
- Significant differences were observed in patients' speech, direction of attention, and anxiety levels between the drugs and the placebo.
- Observers could identify the drugs, though sodium amobarbital and hydroxydione were frequently indistinguishable.
- Patient reports at 24 hours showed significant differences in subjective feelings, with methamphetamine and sodium amobarbital eliciting more changes than hydroxydione or placebo.
Conclusions:
- The studied drugs differentially affect key aspects of psychiatric interviews, including patient communication, cognitive focus, and emotional state.
- Observer identification of specific drugs can be challenging, particularly between sodium amobarbital and hydroxydione.
- Pharmacological agents like methamphetamine and sodium amobarbital have lasting impacts on patient subjective experiences, suggesting their potential utility and risks in therapeutic settings.
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