Single-blind evaluation of hypnotic activity of chlordesmethyldiazepam in No-placebo-reactor medical patients.

69 patients hospitalized for chronic respiratory diseases and complaining of moderate to severe insomnia were treated with placebo for 2 days, 36 subjects (52.17%) were discarded for their placebo responsiveness. To the remaining patients who suffered from severe insomnia, 7-chloro-5-(2-chlorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one (chlordesmethyldiazepam, 2 mg orally) was administered for 7 consecutive evenings. The onset, duration, quality of sleep and the state on awakening were scored on the basis of patient subjective measurements. High scores of the four considered parameters were obtained during chlordesmethyldiazepam administration. Three treated patients complained of diurnal drowsiness. Results are discussed with regard to methodological problems in the evaluation of hypnotics.