Benzodiazepines and Caffeine: Effect on Daytime Sleepiness, Performance, and Mood

Abstract

In a double-blind parallel group design, 80 young adult males were divided into eight treatment groups. Subjects received 15 or 30 mg of flurazepam, 0.25 or 0.50 mg of triazolam, or placebo at bedtime, and 250 mg of caffeine or placebo in the morning for two treatment days. Two objective (MSLT and lapses) and two subjective (Stanford Sleepiness Scale and Visual Analog) measures of sleepiness, five performance tests, and two mood measures (Profile of Mood Scale and Visual Analog Scale) were administered repeatedly on both days. Significant treatment effects were found for sleepiness but not for performance or mood. Early morning caffeine significantly antagonized next day hypnotic induced drowsiness and enhanced alertness in the subjects who received bed time placebo. Flurazepam, 30 mg, subjects were more sleepy than all other groups, but the flurazepam, 15 mg, group did not differ significantly from those receiving triazolam. Although not significantly different, the flurazepam, 30 mg, group had a poorer performance score and more negative mood than the other groups. Performance in this group was most improved by caffeine. In all groups, sleepiness was greatest and performance and mood poorest in early morning trials and caffeine was most effective at this time.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 21, 1988
Accession Number
ADA205862

Entities

People

  • C. L. Spinweber
  • L. C. Johnson
  • S. A. Gomez

Organizations

  • Naval Health Research Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Analogs
  • Analysis Of Variance
  • Coffee
  • Computers
  • Data Analysis
  • Data Science
  • Hypnotics And Sedatives
  • Information Processing
  • Information Science
  • Motor Skills
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • New York
  • Performance Tests
  • Psychology
  • Psychophysiology
  • Situational Awareness
  • Statistical Analysis

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

  • Circadian Sleep-Wake Regulation and Chronobiology