Study in Normals

psychotropic drugs in humans has long been a vexing problem. Past studies have been largely impressionistic. Beecher1 and others have indicated that the subjective effects described in standard textbooks are often in error, particularly when relatively normal subjects are used. We have found this to be true.0 Lasagna,13 Kornetski,10 Gottschalk,5 Klerman,8 and Delay3 and their associates have demonstrated that quantitative and objective approaches can be developed for studying psychotropic drugs. Since these drugs are clinically use-ful for their subjective effects (i.e., to alter mood, alert, sedate, allay anxiety or relieve pain) or, if given for other reasons, have important subjective side effects, their ac-curate assessment is of clinical importance. The influence on or modification of be-havior also need to be measured in a satis-factory assessment program