title: The amytal interview in the treatment of conversion disorder: three case reports.
abstract: The records of three consecutive patients who had a diagnosis of conversion disorder and received an amytal interview were reviewed. All diagnoses were made according to DSM-III-R criteria by a staff psychiatrist. Amytal was administered according to a previously published protocol. All patients were contacted 1 year following their hospital discharge. All patients tolerated the amytal interview without complications. The conversion symptoms in all patients remitted within several days of the interview and had not recurred at 1 year follow-up. In properly selected patients, the use of the amytal interview may be a safe, rapid, and efficacious intervention that can facilitate the resolution of conversion symptoms in the military setting.
authors.affiliation: Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Service, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20889, USA.
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Stiebel
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Kirby
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000654:Amobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003291:Conversion Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D000654:Amobarbital