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Carbon Dioxide Inhalation Therapy in Neurosis

A Controlled Clinical Trial

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 February 2018

J. R. Hawkings
Affiliation:
From the Midland Hospital for Nervous Diseases, United Birmingham Hospitals
R. W. Tibbetts
Affiliation:
From the Midland Hospital for Nervous Diseases, United Birmingham Hospitals

Extract

The first recorded attempt to use carbon dioxide inhalation systematically as a form of psychiatric treatment was by Lovenhart et al. (1929). The subjects were catatonic schizophrenics and such modification as occurred was fleeting in nature.

In 1943 Meduna began to use carbon dioxide inhalation in the treatment of the neuroses and his efforts were described in a series of papers and developed in a monograph (1950). This contains a full description of the physiological and pharmacological effects of carbon dioxide upon nervous function and the technique of administration is described as are also the results in 100 patients. These results are taken as giving some support to a neurophysiological theory of the neuroses based on homeostatic and cybernetic considerations. Efforts were made to minimize the effects of “suggestion” and, although the difficulties are acknowledged, the following passage suggests that the author was reasonably satisfied with his precautions.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1956 

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