Effects of personal interactions and setting on subjective drug responses in small groups.

Subjective responses induced by secobarbital and meprobamate were evaluated in 4 X 4 controlled trials in small groups of healthy young adults over 4 months. Drug effects were mainly influenced by attitudes toward the project, personal interactions, and anticipations of the subjects. The effects of some of these factors were similar to, and at least as powerful as those which are usually considered characteristic of sedatives and stimulants. The same factors, however, did not apparently effect objective responses.