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Effect of capsule colour and order of administration of hypnotic treatments

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Summary

Ninety-six hospitalized insomniac patients were asked to compare by a daily questionnaire the effect on sleep of the colour of the capsules and the order of administration of two treatments — heptabarbital and placebo. A balanced incomplete-block design was used; sleep onset time and sleep duration time were the main criteria of assessment. There was a significant interaction of colour and order of administration with sex. The placebo response was positive in 36% of instances.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Genoa Medical School, Genoa, Italy

    P. E. Lucchelli, A. D. Cattaneo & J. Zattoni

  2. Smith Kline & French S.p.A., Viale Ortles 12, I-20 139, Milano, Italia

    P. E. Lucchelli

Authors
  1. P. E. Lucchelli
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  2. A. D. Cattaneo
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  3. J. Zattoni
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Lucchelli, P.E., Cattaneo, A.D. & Zattoni, J. Effect of capsule colour and order of administration of hypnotic treatments. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 13, 153–155 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00609760

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00609760

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