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Ketamine abreaction : a new approach to narcoanalysis.
G R Golechha1, I C Sethi, S L Misra
1Classified specialist (Psychiatry), Army Hospital, Delhi, Contt.
Indian Journal of Psychiatry
|September 20, 2011
Summary
Ketamine, at sub-anesthetic doses (0.5-1.5 mg/kg IM), effectively induces abreaction for narcoanalysis in psychiatric patients. It offers a safer alternative to traditional agents like sodium pentothal.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Ketamine is a non-barbiturate anesthetic agent used for over a decade.
- It is considered safer than sodium pentothal.
- Sub-anesthetic doses of ketamine may induce abreaction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the abreaction effect of ketamine in psychiatric patients requiring narcoanalysis.
- To compare ketamine's efficacy as an abreactant with pentothal and sodium amytal/methidrine.
Main Methods:
- 30 psychiatric patients received intramuscular ketamine (0.5-1.5 mg/kg) for narcoanalysis.
- Results were compared with 10 patients undergoing pentothal interviews and 5 patients receiving intravenous sodium amytal with methidrine.
Main Results:
- Ketamine demonstrated efficacy as an abreactant in doses of 1-1.5 mg/kg administered intramuscularly.
- It proved to be a suitable substitute for intravenous pentothal or sodium amytal with methidrine.
Conclusions:
- Ketamine is an efficacious abreactant for narcoanalysis in selected psychiatric cases.
- Its relative cardio-respiratory safety and ease of administration are significant advantages.
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