A controlled study of Trancopal in the treatment of sleep disturbances due to anxiety.

Sixty-eight patients presenting with sleep disturbances due to mild neurotic anxiety were treated for two weeks with a single night-time dose of 400 mg trancopal or matching placebo under double-blind conditions. Patients kept a daily record of the quality of their sleep and the observer carried out a weekly rating of anxiety using a modified Hamilton scale. By Day 7 patients receiving Trancopal had a significantly better rating for sleep and mean Hamilton scores for day-time anxiety than the placebo group. Side-effects were minimal. It was concluded that for patients with sleep disturbances due to neurotic anxiety Trancopal is a well tolerated and effective alternative to the hypnotics.