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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MicheleR on October 25, 2000, at 22:49:19
I was wondering if anyone was familiar with sodium amytal and if still used today what is it most commonly used for. Especially if you are familiar with a "sodium amytal interview"..... what are the pro's...con's? As an abuse survivor ( i am not trying to recover memories, they are already here) I guess I am at a point where I am willing to try almost anything, and wondering if there would be any benefits to me pursuing the possible use of sodium amytal in treatment......any feedback you have would be appreciated and/or information or weblinks for sodium amytal would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Michele
Posted by stjames on October 26, 2000, at 3:17:54
In reply to sodium amytal?, posted by MicheleR on October 25, 2000, at 22:49:19
Amytal is sodium amobarbital, a barbituate. It is given
in a controled theraputic setting so someone can talk about
traumatic issues. This makes is easy for the theripist to really
find out what the issues are and makes it easier for the patient
to speak about them. It also makes it more comfortable for the patient.
It is a legit method used for very tramatic issues. In a controlled setting
a barbituate is very safe. it is only done once or just a few times, I think.
Try doing a web search on "sodium amytal interview". Try:
http://www.allhealth.com/conditions/mental/qa/0,4801,6372_1280,00.html
The caveat is the whole "false memory" issue so make sure you do it with someone reputable.james
Posted by shellie on October 27, 2000, at 15:07:55
In reply to sodium amytal?, posted by MicheleR on October 25, 2000, at 22:49:19
Michelle. When sodium amydal is used for abuse survivors, it is generally used for memory retrieval. However, it has not been supported as a technique by the abuse therapeutic community, because it is apparently just as possible to confuse memories under sodium amytal as without. Also, if one is suppressing memories, it may be continue to serve as survival mechanism, and to take away that defense is very risky. On the whole east coast I am only aware of one big name trauma (dissociative disorder) psychiatrist (Richard Lowenstein at Sheppard Pratt) who is willing to use that technique.
But, you have the memories, so I'm not sure why you would be interested in sodium amytal. I wondering if you have tried EMDR as a technique to resolve your traumas, since you do remember them. I know there are pros and cons as to the full legitimacy of EMDR, but I personally know people who have found EMDR to be very successful in resolving painful, unsuppressable memories. Shellie
Posted by R.Anne on October 27, 2000, at 16:36:07
In reply to Re: sodium amytal? » MicheleR, posted by shellie on October 27, 2000, at 15:07:55
As another abuse survivor I read this and would like to know what EMDR is, please.
****
> Michelle. When sodium amydal is used for abuse survivors, it is generally used for memory retrieval. However, it has not been supported as a technique by the abuse therapeutic community, because it is apparently just as possible to confuse memories under sodium amytal as without. Also, if one is suppressing memories, it may be continue to serve as survival mechanism, and to take away that defense is very risky. On the whole east coast I am only aware of one big name trauma (dissociative disorder) psychiatrist (Richard Lowenstein at Sheppard Pratt) who is willing to use that technique.
>
> But, you have the memories, so I'm not sure why you would be interested in sodium amytal. I wondering if you have tried EMDR as a technique to resolve your traumas, since you do remember them. I know there are pros and cons as to the full legitimacy of EMDR, but I personally know people who have found EMDR to be very successful in resolving painful, unsuppressable memories. Shellie
Posted by shellie on October 27, 2000, at 17:35:36
In reply to Re: sodium amytal?What is EMDR?, posted by R.Anne on October 27, 2000, at 16:36:07
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing. It involves a cognitive protocol of setting up what your belief system is concerning a specific incident. Then the subject either follows lights with her eyes, or sounds to the left then right ear, or vibrations on the left to right side. There are hypotheseses that it works because the shifting the two brain hemisphere allows one to process information differently. Some people say it is a very calm feeling; others find it quite intense for processing memories, and exhausting.
It was been used for PDSD for combat veterns and appears to work well for abuse survivors.
You can look up EMDR on the internet; there are also lots of posts at the search on psychobabble.Shellie
Posted by MicheleR on October 27, 2000, at 18:55:15
In reply to Re: sodium amytal? » MicheleR, posted by shellie on October 27, 2000, at 15:07:55
Thank you for your information. My therapist and I have used EMDR, and yes it has worked very well. I have a dissociative disorder (that many people do not believe in) And my thinking with the sodium amytal was to use it basically to find out if current things are happening, that we do not remember. It's hard to get into this, because I know there are alot of varying opinions...but I do lose time......I lose from minutes to days...so I was wondering if using sodium amytal would help get information that is needed for safety reasons....but is not being remembered, if that makes any sense whatsoever.
> Michelle. When sodium amydal is used for abuse survivors, it is generally used for memory retrieval. However, it has not been supported as a technique by the abuse therapeutic community, because it is apparently just as possible to confuse memories under sodium amytal as without. Also, if one is suppressing memories, it may be continue to serve as survival mechanism, and to take away that defense is very risky. On the whole east coast I am only aware of one big name trauma (dissociative disorder) psychiatrist (Richard Lowenstein at Sheppard Pratt) who is willing to use that technique.
>
> But, you have the memories, so I'm not sure why you would be interested in sodium amytal. I wondering if you have tried EMDR as a technique to resolve your traumas, since you do remember them. I know there are pros and cons as to the full legitimacy of EMDR, but I personally know people who have found EMDR to be very successful in resolving painful, unsuppressable memories. Shellie
Posted by MicheleR on October 27, 2000, at 18:58:20
In reply to Re: sodium amytal?What is EMDR?, posted by R.Anne on October 27, 2000, at 16:36:07
shellie is right, there is alot of information out there about EMDR. I personally support it because it has been very effective with me. But....like shellie said it is very intense and exhausting (at least for me)
> As another abuse survivor I read this and would like to know what EMDR is, please.
>
>
> ****
> > Michelle. When sodium amydal is used for abuse survivors, it is generally used for memory retrieval. However, it has not been supported as a technique by the abuse therapeutic community, because it is apparently just as possible to confuse memories under sodium amytal as without. Also, if one is suppressing memories, it may be continue to serve as survival mechanism, and to take away that defense is very risky. On the whole east coast I am only aware of one big name trauma (dissociative disorder) psychiatrist (Richard Lowenstein at Sheppard Pratt) who is willing to use that technique.
> >
> > But, you have the memories, so I'm not sure why you would be interested in sodium amytal. I wondering if you have tried EMDR as a technique to resolve your traumas, since you do remember them. I know there are pros and cons as to the full legitimacy of EMDR, but I personally know people who have found EMDR to be very successful in resolving painful, unsuppressable memories. Shellie
Posted by MicheleR on October 27, 2000, at 19:00:59
In reply to Re: sodium amytal?, posted by stjames on October 26, 2000, at 3:17:54
Thank you very much for the information, I am having trouble finding other websites, the link you gave me was very helpful....I tried several different search engines, and that is the only site that ever came up. If you know of anywhere that I could read more information about a sodium amytal interview please let me know. Thank you.
Michele
> Amytal is sodium amobarbital, a barbituate. It is given
> in a controled theraputic setting so someone can talk about
> traumatic issues. This makes is easy for the theripist to really
> find out what the issues are and makes it easier for the patient
> to speak about them. It also makes it more comfortable for the patient.
> It is a legit method used for very tramatic issues. In a controlled setting
> a barbituate is very safe. it is only done once or just a few times, I think.
> Try doing a web search on "sodium amytal interview". Try:
> http://www.allhealth.com/conditions/mental/qa/0,4801,6372_1280,00.html
> The caveat is the whole "false memory" issue so make sure you do it with someone reputable.
>
> james
Posted by MicheleR on October 27, 2000, at 19:02:50
In reply to sodium amytal?, posted by MicheleR on October 25, 2000, at 22:49:19
I was curious if you had an opinion that you could share regarding sodium amytal interviews.
Thanks,
Michele> I was wondering if anyone was familiar with sodium amytal and if still used today what is it most commonly used for. Especially if you are familiar with a "sodium amytal interview"..... what are the pro's...con's? As an abuse survivor ( i am not trying to recover memories, they are already here) I guess I am at a point where I am willing to try almost anything, and wondering if there would be any benefits to me pursuing the possible use of sodium amytal in treatment......any feedback you have would be appreciated and/or information or weblinks for sodium amytal would be appreciated.
> Thanks,
> Michele
Posted by shellie on October 27, 2000, at 21:54:44
In reply to Re: sodium amytal? » shellie, posted by MicheleR on October 27, 2000, at 18:55:15
Michelle. I am assuming that you have used hynosis to access personalities who might know what is going on and that has not been successful, and that you feel sodium amytal might reveal who has been "in charge" so you can work with that personality.
Just another idea: Recently I met a woman who carries a beeper. Her therapist pages her at various times and she calls her back. If another personality is in control they will generally call the therapist. It seems that this gets her back in control and also it helps with tracking. I had never heard of anyone using this method before, but it seemed to work for this woman.
Posted by R.Anne on October 28, 2000, at 15:56:02
In reply to Re: sodium amytal?What is EMDR? » R.Anne, posted by shellie on October 27, 2000, at 17:35:36
Thank you. I'll do some research on it.
*****
> EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing. It involves a cognitive protocol of setting up what your belief system is concerning a specific incident. Then the subject either follows lights with her eyes, or sounds to the left then right ear, or vibrations on the left to right side. There are hypotheseses that it works because the shifting the two brain hemisphere allows one to process information differently. Some people say it is a very calm feeling; others find it quite intense for processing memories, and exhausting.
>
>
> It was been used for PDSD for combat veterns and appears to work well for abuse survivors.
> You can look up EMDR on the internet; there are also lots of posts at the search on psychobabble.
>
> Shellie
Posted by R.Anne on October 28, 2000, at 15:57:01
In reply to Re: sodium amytal?What is EMDR? » R.Anne, posted by MicheleR on October 27, 2000, at 18:58:20
Thanks. I appreciate the input!
****
> shellie is right, there is alot of information out there about EMDR. I personally support it because it has been very effective with me. But....like shellie said it is very intense and exhausting (at least for me)
>
>
> > As another abuse survivor I read this and would like to know what EMDR is, please.
> >
> >
> > ****
> > > Michelle. When sodium amydal is used for abuse survivors, it is generally used for memory retrieval. However, it has not been supported as a technique by the abuse therapeutic community, because it is apparently just as possible to confuse memories under sodium amytal as without. Also, if one is suppressing memories, it may be continue to serve as survival mechanism, and to take away that defense is very risky. On the whole east coast I am only aware of one big name trauma (dissociative disorder) psychiatrist (Richard Lowenstein at Sheppard Pratt) who is willing to use that technique.
> > >
> > > But, you have the memories, so I'm not sure why you would be interested in sodium amytal. I wondering if you have tried EMDR as a technique to resolve your traumas, since you do remember them. I know there are pros and cons as to the full legitimacy of EMDR, but I personally know people who have found EMDR to be very successful in resolving painful, unsuppressable memories. Shellie
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