Immediate Changes in Affect With Chlordiazepoxide

Abstract

THIS REPORT presents the findings with respect to differential changes in affect accompanying the administration of chlordiazepoxide (Librium) as compared to a placebo in a sample of juvenile delinquent boys. The data were obtained in conjunction with a study of elctrodermal activity recorded under basal and mild stress conditions. On the basis of reports in the literature^7,11-13and our own studies with other psychoactive drugs^4,16it was hypothesized that anxiety-fear would be reduced following administration of the active drug and that there might also be an accompanying reduction in "hostility outward" as measured by the verbal behavior sampling procedure. <h3>Method</h3> The subjects in this study were 46 male white adolescents, 14 to 16 years of age, who were incarcerated in a juvenile detention center for asocial or delinquent behavior. The boys were newly admitted inmates, none of whom displayed severe