Sodium amytal can be used diagnostically to differentiate neuroses from psychoses, manic depressive psychosis from schizophrenia, and psychogenic from organic conditions. Many patients may disclose hallucinations and delusions not previously suspected; mannerisms, ecolalia, bizarre associations and incoherence may likewise be illuminated. Sodium amytal has been used prognostically with some success: thus, individuals who reacted favorably to amytal narcosis responded well to shock therapy. It was used extensively in the therapy of war neuroses. Contrary to the experience of Grinker, Hoch obtained results in selected cases by the use of suggestion alone while the patient was under amytal. Applying it subsequently to civilian neuroses, Hoch believes he considerably curtailed the length of treatment. Anxiety neuroses respond well while obsessional neuroses and anxiety hysteria do not yield as gratifying results. Certain psychosomatic syndromes were greatly benefited. The modus operandi of the drug is not yet sufficiently understood.