The use of midazolam with pulse oximetry in the drug-assisted interview.

BACKGROUND

The drug-assisted interview appears to be declining in psychiatric practice. This decline may be due in part to complexities in the use of barbiturates, which have a narrow therapeutic index.

METHOD: Five patients who had depression and/or posttraumatic stress disorder underwent drug-assisted interviews for which midazolam and pulse oximetry monitoring were used.

RESULTS

The midazolam-pulse oximetry technique resulted in consistent and easily monitored levels of conscious sedation. Midazolam was judged comparably effective to amobarbital and easier to use.

CONCLUSION

A simple, safe, and effective technique for drug-assisted interviewing for which midazolam and continuous pulse oximetry monitoring are used is described.