Evidence for inert gas narcosis mechanisms in the occurrence of psychotic-like episodes at pressure environment.

Psychotic-like episodes in divers exposed to high pressure have been attributed to either the high-pressure neurological syndrome, confinement in pressure chamber, the subject's personality, or the addition of nitrogen or hydrogen to the basic helium-oxygen breathing mixture used for deep diving. Alternatively, it is suggested that these disorders are in fact paroxysmal narcotic symptoms that result from the sum of the individual narcotic potencies of each inert gas in the breathing mixture. This hypothesis is tested against a variety of lipid solubility theories of narcosis. The results clearly support the hypothesis and provide new information about the cellular interactions between inert gases at raised pressure and pressure itself.