Previous experiments (KELLY et al. 1958a, b; M~QvIS etal.; SMITiK et al.) have studied effects of meprobamate and other psychoactive drugs on the objectively measured behavior of normal subjects after acute and after chronic administration of the drug treatments. The present experiment investigates chronic drug effects on a sample of patients psychiatrically diagnosed as anxiety neurotics. This, then, allows for extension of our previous findings to a new group of potential drug users --the more disturbed outpatient, of psychiatrist or general practitioner, who is likely to be treated for protracted periods under close medical supervision.
The driving, vision, and attention tests developed and used previously were again employed in this experiment, along with new tests that appeared promising as anxiety-sensitive indicators. In addition to data from the objective behavioral tests, two other types of data were collected --psychiatric assessments on a number of variables, and check-list ratings both by the patients and by a close friend.
Method
Subjects. Thirty-eight paid volunteers, ranging in age from 21 to 41 years, were chosen as subjects for the present study of whom thirtytwo, including 15 men and 17 women, completed the experiment. This total included 23 patients who were diagnosed as anxiety neurotics on the basis of a psychiatric interview and work-up, plus nine normal controls. Patients were recruited from three sources : a) A general practi-* The authors wish to thank Mr. GERS~OM MORNINGSTAR for conducting the behavioral tests, Drs. RALP~ W. GERARD and E. LOWELL KELLY for consultation in planning and designing the experiment, Mrs. MONA MO~I~GSTA~ and Messrs.