Pharmacological modelling of dissociation and psychosis: an evaluation of the Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale and Psychotomimetic States Inventory during nitrous oxide (‘laughing gas’)-induced anomalous states
Psychopharmacology March 26, 2022 Giulia Piazza, G. Iskandar, V. Hennessy et al. 14 citations
Nitrous oxide (N2O) produces dissociative and psychosis-like effects comparable to those of ketamine in healthy volunteers, making it a practical alternative for modeling these experiences outside clinical settings. Analysis of data from three previous studies found that the Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS) and Psychotomimetic States Inventory (PSI) capture largely non-overlapping subjective experiences during N2O inhalation. A three-factor model of dissociation was confirmed, though a two-factor model may be more parsimonious. Psychosis-like symptoms were represented by two negative and two positive symptom factors. The findings suggest both measures should be used together to comprehensively assess anomalous states from dissociative NMDAR antagonists.