TRAZODONE FOR SENILE PATIENTS WITH INSOMNIA:A CLINICAL OBSERVATION

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of trazodone for insomnia in the aged. Methods Sixty senior outpatients with insomnia were evenly randomized to trazodone group and diazepam group,the course of therapy was eight weeks for both groups. Their sleep status was assessed before and at the end of the course. The efficacy was evaluated by HAMD and HAMA,the adverse effects were assessed by TESS. An analysis and comparison were made in both groups. Results The effective rate of trazodone group was 86.67% compared with 83.33% for diazepam group,with difference being not significant between the two groups (χ2=0.612,P0.05). The HAMD and HAMA scores upon completion of the therapy showed dramatically lower than that before treatment in both groups (t=7.19-9.43,P0.01),and the differences of decreased values of the scores between the two groups were also significant (t=4.21,5.13;P0.05). The side effects were mild and similar in both groups,which did not impact the therapeutic outcomes. Conclusion Trazodone can effectively relieve insomnia and accompanying anxiety and depression in the aged without side effects,which is worth while to extent its use clinically.