Bayer A J, Pathy M S
Postgrad Med J. 1985 Apr;61(714):317-20. doi: 10.1136/pgmj.61.714.317.
Requests for night sedation and the use of placebo as first line drug management were studied prospectively in 1174 consecutive elderly hospital in-patients. Of the 390 (33.2%) patients requesting sleeping pills in hospital, 37 were subsequently satisfied without the prescription of additional medication. A further 216 patients were entirely satisfied with a placebo capsule during all of their hospital stay. An 'active' hypnotic drug was required by only 137 patients, many of whom were noisy and disturbing other patients in the ward. Most of the active hypnotic drugs prescribed to elderly hospital patients are unnecessary and a majority of those requesting hypnotics consistently respond to placebo. There remains a need for greater education of patients, nurses and doctors in the non-pharmacological management of sleep disorders.
对1174例连续入住医院的老年患者进行了前瞻性研究，观察夜间镇静需求及使用安慰剂作为一线药物治疗的情况。在390例（33.2%）住院期间要求使用安眠药的患者中，有37例在未开具额外药物处方的情况下随后感到满意。另有216例患者在整个住院期间对安慰剂胶囊完全满意。仅137例患者需要使用“活性”催眠药物，其中许多患者吵闹并干扰病房中的其他患者。大多数开给老年住院患者的活性催眠药物是不必要的，而且大多数要求使用催眠药物的患者对安慰剂始终有反应。在睡眠障碍的非药物管理方面，仍需要对患者、护士和医生进行更多教育。
