Subjective ratings of sleep quality and anxiety after placebo, drug and a food drink.

Ten subjects (mean age 57 years) took part in a crossover study between a food drink and nitrazepam 5 mg. They rated their anxiety and sleep quality. On half the sleep laboratory nights during baseline periods subjects were given an inert pill which they were told would improve sleep. A comparison was made between the six pill and six non-pill nights for each subject. Subjective ratings revealed no significant difference attributable to the inert pill. Sleep quality was rated to have been improved during both late drug and early food drink admilistration. On early drug withdrawal sleep quality was rated worse than baseline.