The concept of drug automatism. 1976

M I Good

The drug-automatism hypothesis implies a medication-induced absence of intentionality for self-poisoning and a relative amnesia for serial or single overdosage. Controversy stems from problems encountered in the formulation and verfication of the hypothesis. The author reviews the literature, presents a case associated with a proprietary sleeping preparation, and discusses psychopharmacological and psychophysiological elements in the mechanism of drug automatism and its differential diagnosis.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006993 Hypnotics and Sedatives Drugs used to induce drowsiness or sleep or to reduce psychological excitement or anxiety. Hypnotic,Sedative,Sedative and Hypnotic,Sedatives,Hypnotic Effect,Hypnotic Effects,Hypnotics,Sedative Effect,Sedative Effects,Sedatives and Hypnotics,Effect, Hypnotic,Effect, Sedative,Effects, Hypnotic,Effects, Sedative,Hypnotic and Sedative
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D011041 Poisoning A condition or physical state produced by the ingestion, injection, inhalation of or exposure to a deleterious agent. Poisonings
D011600 Psychopharmacology The study of the effects of drugs on mental and behavioral activity.
D011603 Psychophysiology The study of the physiological basis of human and animal behavior. Mind-Body Relations (Physiology),Psychology, Physiological,Mind-Body Relationship (Physiology),Physiologic Psychology,Physiological Psychology,Psychology, Physiologic,Mind Body Relations (Physiology),Mind Body Relationship (Physiology),Mind-Body Relation (Physiology),Mind-Body Relationships (Physiology),Physiologic Psychologies,Psychologies, Physiologic,Relation, Mind-Body (Physiology),Relations, Mind-Body (Physiology),Relationship, Mind-Body (Physiology),Relationships, Mind-Body (Physiology)
D003693 Delirium A disorder characterized by CONFUSION; inattentiveness; disorientation; ILLUSIONS; HALLUCINATIONS; agitation; and in some instances autonomic nervous system overactivity. It may result from toxic/metabolic conditions or structural brain lesions. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp411-2) Delirium of Mixed Origin,Subacute Delirium,Delirium, Subacute,Deliriums, Subacute,Mixed Origin Delirium,Mixed Origin Deliriums,Subacute Deliriums
D004366 Nonprescription Drugs Medicines that can be sold legally without a DRUG PRESCRIPTION. Drugs, Non-Prescription,Non-Prescription Drug,Nonprescription Drug,OTC Drug,OTC Drugs,Over-the-Counter Drug,Over-the-Counter Drugs,Patent Medicine,Patent Medicines,Drugs, Nonprescription,Medicines, Patent,Non-Prescription Drugs,Drug, Non-Prescription,Drug, Nonprescription,Drug, OTC,Drug, Over-the-Counter,Drugs, Non Prescription,Drugs, OTC,Drugs, Over-the-Counter,Medicine, Patent,Non Prescription Drug,Non Prescription Drugs,Over the Counter Drug,Over the Counter Drugs
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000648 Amnesia, Retrograde Loss of the ability to recall information that had been previously encoded in memory prior to a specified or approximate point in time. This process may be organic or psychogenic in origin. Organic forms may be associated with CRANIOCEREBRAL TRAUMA; CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENTS; SEIZURES; DEMENTIA; and a wide variety of other conditions that impair cerebral function. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp426-9) Pre-Ictal Memory Loss,Retrograde Amnesia,Amnesia, Pre-Ictal,Memory Loss, Retrograde,Amnesia, Pre Ictal,Amnesias, Pre-Ictal,Amnesias, Retrograde,Memory Loss, Pre-Ictal,Memory Losses, Pre-Ictal,Memory Losses, Retrograde,Pre Ictal Memory Loss,Pre-Ictal Amnesia,Pre-Ictal Amnesias,Pre-Ictal Memory Losses,Retrograde Amnesias,Retrograde Memory Loss,Retrograde Memory Losses

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