A study of the clinical effect and its mechanism of the diazepam infusion sleeping therapy

We developed diazepam infusion sleeping therapy (DIST) that was completed by reforming diazepam sedation threshold test which had been developed to estimate the anxiety of patients objectively and quantitatively. We have applied this therapeutic method to clinical use. As the result, we have obtained some knowledge. The results obtained were as follows: (1) The diseases that DIST was very effective for were vegitative dystonia, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder etc. (n = 30). The diseases that DIST was effective for were generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, depression, vegitative dystonia etc. (n = 50). The diseases that was ineffective for were generalized anxiety disorder, depression, anorexia nervosa, mesencephalosis etc. (n = 42). (2) On the clinical effect, more diazepam was required in the effective group and the very effective group compared with the ineffective group significantly (p < 0.05, n = 92). (3) The diazepam dosage of DIST was significantly higher in the IV area of CMI (Cornell Medical Index) compared with the I or II or III area of CMI (p < 0.05, n = 78). (4) Concerning the vital sign, the blood pressure decreased significantly at the sleeping point and after 30 minutes of DIST. The pulse and the respiratory rate increased significantly at the sleeping point of DIST (p < 0.05, n = 44). (5) Concerning the autonomic nerve function, there was no significant difference in the value of coefficient of component variance (CCV) before and after DIST. But, the LF (low frequent)/HF (high frequent) component, which can be an index of the domination of the sympathetic nerve activity to the parasympathetic nerve activity, was decreased on the next day after DIST and six days after DIST compared with the LF/HF component before DIST significantly (p < 0.05, n = 14). (6) MAS (Manifest Anxiety Scale) score was decreased significantly in six days after DIST compared with the score before DIST (p < 0.05, n = 14). As mentioned above, DIST seemed to be a very effective therapy to diminish the clinical signs and symptoms (especially anxiety state) of psychosomatic diseases.