The use of midazolam with pulse oximetry in the drug-assisted interview.
BACKGROUND
The drug-assisted interview appears to be declining in psychiatric practice. This decline may be due in part to complexities in the use of barbiturates, which have a narrow therapeutic index.


METHODS
Five patients who had depression and/or posttraumatic stress disorder underwent drug-assisted interviews for which midazolam and pulse oximetry monitoring were used.


RESULTS
The midazolam-pulse oximetry technique resulted in consistent and easily monitored levels of conscious sedation. Midazolam was judged comparably effective to amobarbital and easier to use.


CONCLUSIONS
A simple, safe, and effective technique for drug-assisted interviewing for which midazolam and continuous pulse oximetry monitoring are used is described.
Marcum
J M
JM
Hamilton Medical Center, Dalton, Georgia, USA.
D000328:Adult; D000654:Amobarbital / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001463:Barbiturates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016292:Procedural Sedation; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009291:Narcotherapy; D010092:Oximetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D012737:Sex Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*
D001463:Barbiturates; D000654:Amobarbital; D008874:Midazolam; D010100:Oxygen