A technique for investigating the intensity and duration of human psychomotor impairment after intravenous diazepam.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impairment of both psychomotor function and memory after intravenous administration of 17 to 28 mg. of diazepam to normal volunteers. A battery of tests, including word memory, Seguin form board, digit symbol, digit span, block design, and reaction time, was administered at set intervals to both drug and nondrug subjects. The diazepam group demonstrated both psychomotor and anterograde memory deficits which persisted throughout the 150-minute evaluation; but relative to the control group, the diazepam group had enhanced retrograde memory. These preliminary results indicate that even after subjects appear to be recovered from the effect;s of diazepam, residual psychomotor and memory impairment remain.