Activation of Psychosis by a Combination of Scopolamine and Alpha-Chloralose

Abstract

The investigation of physiologic concomitants of disturbed behavior has been of interest for many years. In particular, the use of the EEG has been emphasized since the days of Hans Berger, and some meaningful correlations have been made in the case of "psychopathic" or aggressive behavior disorders. The value of the EEG in recognizing epilepsy and epileptic equivalents is common knowledge. However, in spite of much work on psychosis and a fairly widespread agreement that there is a "higher incidence" of EEG abnormalities in hospitalized psychotic patients than in the general population, little other meaningful correlation has been noted. For a good review, Ellingson⁶may be referred to. Interest in this subject has been renewed in recent years by the description of subcortical electrophysiologic abnormalities in psychotic patients by Heath, Sem-Jacobsen, Delgado, and others. These investigations have raised the question as to whether there is in some or all