title: The phenomenological structure of drug-induced ego states. II. Barbiturates and sedative-hypnotics: phenomenology and implications.
abstract: Empirically derived descriptions of experiential states, induced by heavy, chronic consumption of drugs, provide valuable information for treatment personnel as well as for scientists studying drug abuse or pharmacology. A 7-year program of research has studied persons committed to heavy, long-term use of several prominent substances of abuse. This report results from that research and provides a phenomenological description of the psychological state induced by heavy, chronic use of barbiturates and sedative-hypnotics. Interview, Q-sort and semantic differential data indicate the barbiturate state is intensely unpleasant: a state in which users lose desired characteristics, take on undesired characteristics, engage in self-destructive acts, and emerge in worse condition than before entering it. Explaining why people choose to enter such a state is difficult. Several theoretical alternatives for doing so are considered. Psychotherapy with these individuals must deal with the theme of abandonment/rejection that permeates their lives and with the diffuse hostility, expectations of failure and defeat, self-destructive tendencies, and feelings of hopelessness that they display. Suggestions are presented for treatment of individual cases.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001463:Barbiturates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D004532:Ego; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D013037:Spatial Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D013998:Time Perception / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001463:Barbiturates; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives