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The use of midazolam with pulse oximetry in the drug-assisted interview
1Hamilton Medical Center, Dalton, Georgia, USA.
Background:
The drug-assisted interview appears to be declining in psychiatric practice. This decline may be due in part to complexities in the use of barbiturates, which have a narrow therapeutic index.
Method:
Five patients who had depression and/or posttraumatic stress disorder underwent drug-assisted interviews for which midazolam and pulse oximetry monitoring were used.
Results:
The midazolam-pulse oximetry technique resulted in consistent and easily monitored levels of conscious sedation. Midazolam was judged comparably effective to amobarbital and easier to use.
Conclusion:
A simple, safe, and effective technique for drug-assisted interviewing for which midazolam and continuous pulse oximetry monitoring are used is described.