Oral diazepam in hospitaized anxiety patients (with observations on concentration-effect-relationships).

The anxiolytic efficacy of oral diazepam, 30 mgs. daily, was investigated in newly admitted psychoneurotic patients, suffering from an anxiety syndrome. A double-blind cross-over design against placebo was used. Ratings were performed weekly using the Hamilton scale for anxiety and other scales. Diazepam was shown to be significantly more effective than placebo for the abatement of the global anxiety syndrome, as objectively and subjectively rated. The symptoms most sensitive to its action are: anxious mood, psychic tension, behavioural unrest, insomnia and respiratory complaints. Side effects were few. Using Spearman rank correlation coefficients (rs) a significant concentration-effect-relationship was found for diazepam (d) and desmethyl-diazepam products (dd). (rs (d) = .35; p less than .02; rs (dd = -.29; p less than .05).