[3] While extraordinarily rare today, narcosynthesis procedures (using sodium amytal and pentothal) were widely used in the United States in the post-World War II era when only a very few psychiatric treatments were available.
[4] Administered as an inpatient hospital admission and overseen by an anesthesiologist, this procedure remains used in only the most extreme cases in the U.S..[citation needed] In 1930, Dr. William Bleckwenn introduced narcoanalysis as a therapy for severely schizophrenic patients or those who suffered from catatonic mutism.
The efficacy of such techniques remains a source of debate among medical professionals; however, it is the ethical aspect of this area of psychology which provides the greatest challenge to society,[7] as the malleability of the human psyche is well documented throughout history.
Opponents of narcosynthesis argue that there is little scientific evidence to warrant its use as a reliable source of interrogation, citing misuses by the CIA and several Indian police agencies.
Though security agencies worldwide have shown interest, inconsistent results have proven objective truth elusive, despite increased suggestibility.