title: The concept of drug automatism.
abstract: The drug-automatism hypothesis implies a medication-induced absence of intentionality for self-poisoning and a relative amnesia for serial or single overdosage. Controversy stems from problems encountered in the formulation and verfication of the hypothesis. The author reviews the literature, presents a case associated with a proprietary sleeping preparation, and discusses psychopharmacological and psychophysiological elements in the mechanism of drug automatism and its differential diagnosis.
mesh_terms: D000648:Amnesia, Retrograde / Q000139:chemically induced; D001332:Automatism / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications*; D003693:Delirium / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D011041:Poisoning / Q000209:etiology*; D011600:Psychopharmacology; D011603:Psychophysiology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs