CORRELATION OF THE RESULTS OF SODIUM AMYTAL NARCOSIS AND OF CONVULSIVE SHOCK TREATMENT
ROBERT A. CLARK M. D.1,
RODNEY H. KIEFER M. D.2, , and
MARTIN J. GERSON M. D.3
1 Western State Psychiatric Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pa.
2 Behavior Clinic of the Criminal Court of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, Pa.
3 Fairfield State Hospital, Newtown, Conn.
A positive correlation was observed between the effects of intravenous sodium amytal and of convulsive shock treatment on 40 patients suffering from psychoses without demonstrable organic pathology. The different types of response were illustrated by the case histories of 6 patients. It is concluded that the sodium amytal test is of some value in predicting the outcome of convulsive shock treatment, and may be of practical use in selecting cases for treatment. It is suggested that the use of this test may be combined with the use of the Rorschach and performance tests. This correlation may also serve as a lead for further investigation of the pathologic physiology of so-called functional mental disorders.
