ALPRAZOLAM 0.125 MG TWICE A DAY IMPROVES ASPECTS OF PSYCHOMETRIC PERFORMANCE IN HEALTHY-VOLUNTEERS

The effects of alprazolam (0.125 mg) taken twice a day on several cogn itive and performance tasks (Pictures test, Digit-Symbol Substitution Test, Choice Reaction Time [CRT], Critical Flicker Fusion [CFF]) were investigated in healthy students. A double-blind, independent group de sign was used to compare placebo with alprazolam (32 volunteers in eac h group). After random assignment, ail subjects received placebo for 3 days (D) followed by 14 days of treatment with either alprazolam or p lacebo. Subjects completed a battery of tests at D-0, D-3, D-7, D-10, and D-14. D-3 performance was poorer in the alprazolamn group except f or CFF values (ascending values and total values), and the only signif icant improvement was in total reaction time on the CRT test. However, a significant improvement in performance (except in recognition react ion time) was shown at D-7, D-10, and D-14 in the alprazolam group com pared with the control group results. This study shows that repeated f low doses of alprazolam produce small improvements in some aspects of psychomotor and cognitive functions. Training effect, tolerance effect , anxiolytic effect, and changes in receptor function and/or number ar e discussed to explain the performance improvement.