Alleviating agitation, apprehension, and related symptoms in geriatric patients: A double-blind comparison of a phenothiazine and a benzodiazepien.

A four-week, double-blind study compared the effectiveness of thioridazine and diazepam in 40 geriatric patients with various symptoms of senility. Patients' progress was evaluated with the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, a Modified Nurses' Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation (NOSIE), a global rating of degree of illness, and a global rating of degree of overall change. The data indicate that thioridazine was superior to diazepam inrelieving troublesome symptoms of senility.