Since reserpine was introduced, in 1953, numerous descriptions of its effects upon psychotic behavior have appeared in the psychiatric literature. Although most of the reports are highly laudatory,1-6some of the more recent studies have failed to reproduce the dramatic results which have been reported.7,8Nearly all of the studies attempted to measure the effects of reserpine in terms of changes in disturbed behavior. However, few investigators have used a preliminary observational period to specify the behavior to be studied and to establish base line measures for evaluating changes in behavior after drug administration was begun. Indeed, in some reports it is even difficult to determine what observations were made or what specific criteria of improvement were used. In addition, few investigators have analyzed the results to determine whether the observed changes in pathological activity were reliable or statistically significant. It is noted that when studies were well