truth serum

a colloquial name for drugs, especially the barbiturates amobarbital, pentobarbital, and thiopental, that are injected intravenously in mild doses to help elicit information by inducing a relaxed, semihypnotic state in which an individual is less inhibited and more communicative. The term is derived from the reported use of such drugs by police to extract confessions from suspects.

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Psychology term of the day

October 15th 2024

alcohol intoxication delirium

in DSM–IV–TR and DSM–5, a reversible syndrome that develops over a short period (usually hours to days) following heavy alcohol consumption. Disturbance of consciousness (e.g., reduced ability to focus, sustain, or shift attention) is accompanied by changes in cognition (e.g., memory deficit, disorientation, or language disturbance) in excess of those usually associated with alcohol intoxication. See also substance intoxication delirium.