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Psychopharmacologic Investigations in Elderly Volunteers: Effect of Diazepam in Males †
Author(s) -
Salzman Carl,
Shader Richard I.,
Harmatz Jerold,
Robertson Linda
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1975.tb00929.x
Subject(s) - placebo , medicine , diazepam , antidepressant , depression (economics) , rating scale , sedative , differential effects , drug , anesthesia , psychiatry , anxiety , psychology , developmental psychology , alternative medicine , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
Forty male volunteers over the age of 60 took either a daily dose of diazepam (12 mg) or placebo for a two‐week period. Differential responses to these compounds partially depended upon age and the initial symptom level. Diazepam produced sedative side effects, a modest antidepressant effect, and a reduction in memory. Placebo had an antianxiety effect in the relatively older subjects, and was associated with decreased fatigue, improved memory and improved motor function. Considerable variability was observed in both drug and placebo responses among the elderly. A self‐rating depression scale (D 30R ) was useful for assessing changes in affective states and in discriminating between the effects of active drug and placebo.