PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGIC STUDY OF SCHIZOPHRENIA AND DEPRESSIONS

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Abstract
Since the reaction of a psychotic patient to the intravenous injection of sodium amytal has been recognized as being of diagnostic,1 therapeutic,2 prognostic3 and investigative4 importance, attempts have been made to improve the response to this drug. Various stimulants of the central nervous system, such as caffeine and sodium benzoate,5 metrazol6 and amphetamine sulfate,7 have been employed for this purpose: to improve the psychologic characteristics of the response, to decrease drowsiness and to prolong the reaction. In a previous study,8 the effects of combined intravenous injections of sodium amytal and amphetamine sulfate in patients with schizophrenia and depressions were compared. When a constant dose (sodium amytal, 250 mg.; amphetamine sulfate, 10 mg.) was used and the response of the patient to sodium amytal alone was compared with that to amphetamine sulfate added in different ways on subsequent days, it was apparent that