PROJECTIVE TECHNIQUE WITH NARCOSIS
HERBERT DORKEN JR. M. SC.1, and
MARTIN M. TUNIS M. D.1
1 Verdun Protestant Hospital.
1. Recent opinions as to the action of subnarcotic doses of barbiturates on the central nervous system are summarized. Reference is made to the view that electroencephalographic studies of schizophrenic patients suggest a "disorder of neural function," i. e., an organic brain dysfunction.
2. Projective technique with narcosis was applied to 5 cases of schizophrenia. Intravenous nembutal (0.3 gm.) and caffeine sodium benzoate (0.25 gm. to 0.5 gm.) were administered. The dosages were adjusted for the individual patient as judged by clinical response.
3. Detailed analysis of the Rorschach material thus obtained revealed that:
A. Narcosis is an aid to the psychological examination of the resistant or inaccessible schizophrenic patient.
B. Underlying psychopathological processes are readily elicited.
C. Diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications of this method are noted.
D. Analysis of the psychological material suggests the possibility of organic brain dysfunction in the patients examined. Special thanks are extended to Dr. Reed, hospital superintendent, for his cooperation and kind permission to publish.
