Am J Psychiatry 1976; 133:570-572
Copyright © 1976 by American Psychiatric Association
Pavor nocturnus: a complication of single daily tricyclic or neuroleptic dosage
A Flemenbaum
The author tested the hypothesis that a single bedtime dosage schedule of
tricyclic or neuroleptic medication produces increased frequency of night
terrors by administering a questionnaire to 30 medical patients who were
not receiving such medications and 100 psychiatric patients on either
multiple- or single-dosage schedules. Psychiatric patients on
multiple-dosage schedules reported no more frightening dreams than the
medical patients, whereas almost three-fourths of those receiving single
bedtime doses had frightening dreams, a significant difference from the
medical sample. This preliminary report is presented to call attention to
the possible undesirable effects of a single dose schedule.
