Techniques Used to Assess the Efficacy of Psychotropic Drugs: A Critical Review

Abstract

Some relevant literature concerning the techniques used to assess psychotropic drug efficacy is evaluated and summarized, and the need for an objective dependent variable to assess behavioral changes associated with drug effects is indicated. The paper concludes that the most obvious basic requirements for the evaluation of psychotropic drugs at the human level are the development and maintenance of stable and reproducible baselines against which to assess drug-correlated changes. As of this date, such a measure has not been developed.