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Narcoanalysis

Interrogation under Drug Influence

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It has long been known that certain drugs which have a depressing effect upon central nervous system function, also produce a remarkable candor or freedom from inhibition in the subject, which causes him to give truthful answers to questions. The oldest of these drugs is alcohol. For centuries investigators have realized that one method of loosening the tongue and eliminating repressive influences in an uncommunicative subject is to ply him with liquor. This well-known effect of alcohol has given rise to the time-honored aphorism "in vino veritas"- in wine there is truth.1 With the advent of anesthesia about a century ago, it was observed that during the induction period and particularly during the recovery, interval, patients were prone to make extremely naive remarks about personal matters, which, in their normal state, would never have been revealed. Probably the earliest direct attempt to utilize this phenomenon in criminal interrogation stemmed from observations of...

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Narcoanalysis and Truth Serum

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Much publicity has been given to the use of drugs in obtaining confessions from suspected criminals. The term "truth serum" suggests the existence of a drug with the remarkable property of eliciting the truth. The reputation enjoyed by truth se- rum is based on spectacular newspaper reports rather than on carefully documented case reports in professional medical or legal journals. The test is sometimes used by law enforcement officers, but it is doubtful whether it is as useful as popular belief would suggest. The description truth serum is misleading as the drug used is not a serum, and it does not always lead to the truth. Formerly scopalamine was used, but today a barbiturate drug, such as sodium amytal, is usually employed. The test may not be performed unless the suspect willingly gives his consent. The drug is injected slowly into a vein in order to induce a relaxed state of mind in which the suspect becomes more talkative and has less emotional control.

Additional Resource: Narcoanalysis and Truth Serum (2892 downloads )

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Certain Factors Pertaining to the Value of Narcoanalysis in Securing Testimony

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FOR centuries it has been known that certain drugs such as alcohol, hashish, mescal, cocaine, opiates and others could in varying degrees reduce an individual's conscious self-control and volition and might cause him to reveal feelings, experiences and ideas which he otherwise would not express. The Latin expression "in vino veritas" illustrates that the ancient Romans were aware of such effects. Not only are the psychic inhibitory functions af- fected varyingly by the above drugs, but further, the capacity to experience danger or threat to one's security is altered. For instance, there is a reduction in the awareness of disturbing feelings of anxiety and guilt which often underlie inhibitory defensive reactions. In more recent years, certain rapidly acting barbiturates such as sodium amytal and pentothal administered intravenously were found to be particularly useful for such purposes. In World War II, psychiatrists made extensive use of these two barbiturates, particularly for purposes of abreaction and catharsis of traumatic emotional experiences result

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Moment Of Truth: Medical Ethics And Human Rights In Narcoanalysis

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The Supreme Court has declared illegal the use of medical technologies for investigation of individuals without their consent and several safeguards. Nevertheless, narcoanalysis, brain mapping and other medical technologies continue to be used. The participation of doctors in these practices erodes the very core of the medical profession, writes Amar Jesani

I did not know Dr Ramanadham personally, though he was active at the same time I was in the trade union and human rights movements. His work inspired many of us, for the involvement of medical professionals in doing something progressive is quite rare in India. Amongst such rare doctors today is Dr Binayak Sen, who has used his professional skills only for the poor, and involved himself in human rights work (he was imprisoned on false charges by the Chhattisgarh government). Incidentally, both Dr Ramanadham and Dr Sen specialised as paediatricians.

The participation of some doctors in the violation of democratic rights or in conservative and anti-people activities is

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Evaluating Truthfulness and Detecting Deception

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Evaluating Truthfulness and Detecting Deception

By David Matsumoto, Ph.D.; Hyi Sung Hwang, Ph.D.; Lisa Skinner, J.D.; and Mark Frank, Ph.D.

While interviewing the suspect who claims ignorance about an incident, the witness who saw it happen, or the informant who identified the perpetrator, the detective asks a question that will eviscerate the perpetrator’s story. As the suspect prepares to answer, he looks up and to the left, purses his lips, tenses his eyelids, and brings his eyebrows down.

The investigator knows that a suspect displaying shifty eyes and gaze aversion and looking up and to the left when answering uncomfortable questions is exhibiting signs of lying. The suspect is not totally disinterested, but he is reluctant to participate in the interview. Because the suspect’s behavior suggests dishonesty, the detective prepares to drill still deeper in the questioning.

Unfortunately, this investigator likely would be wrong. Twenty-three out of 24 peer-reviewed studies published in scientific journals reporting experiments...

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Narco-Analysis: A New Technique in Short-Cut Psychotherapy: A Comparison with Other Methods: And Notes on the Barbiturates

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Abstract

This little book summarizes the author's experience with barbiturates as aids in the production of hypnosis. He contends that narcotic hypnosis resembles ordinary hypnosis in all essential respects. A chapter on the chemistry of the barbiturates is included. The author recounts his experiences with narcoanalysis in a mental hospital and in outpatient clinics. A few cases of war neurosis, simulation and malingering are discussed. The book thoroughly considers the technic of therapy with intravenous sodium pentothal and amytal. The theoretical chapters indicate that the author rightfully uses the treatment only as the first step and follows it with other psychotherapy and assistance to the patient in reconstructing his outlook on life. It is unfortunate that the author delayed writing this book concerning his early experience with narcoanalysis. It would have been invaluable to American military psychiatrists in their early therapeutic trials. However, the work is still up to date and...

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