MELATONIN AND INSOMNIA

The hypnotic action of melatonin 5 mg p.o. was explored in 15 subjects with psychophysiological insomnia in a double-blind controlled self-r eport questionnaire study. Melatonin or placebo was taken at 20.00 hou rs for a 1-week period in random order. Effects on sleep and wakefulne ss were monitored by visual analogue scale and structured interview. B edtime, sleep onset time, estimated total sleep and wake time, as well as self-rated sleep quality, were not altered by melatonin, and estim ates of next-day function did not change. The period of melatonin trea tment was retrospectively correctly identified by 8 of 15 subjects. De spite unchanged ratings of night sleep quality on the last night of ea ch treatment, 7 of 15 subjects reported that sleep had subjectively im proved to a minor extent in the week of active treatment. Side-effects attributed to melatonin included headache and an odd taste in the mou th. These data indicate that melatonin is probably of no clinical valu e in the management of psychophysiological insomnia.