Tranquillizer effects in an experimental analog of verbal examinations.
In an experimental analog of verbal examinations, the call-up situation, the effects of two dosages of a tranquillizing agent (lopirazepam) are compared to placebo treatment. 72 male and female, healthy, young volunteers have been randomly assigned to 12 groups of 6 subjects each. Pulse frequency and performance were registered. The results indicated differential drug effects which were interpreted according to the hypotheses of 'differential effects of social stressors'. If a situation was highly challenging for a subject, the application of a tranquillizer in an adequately high dosage enabled him to perform well in spite of or because of strong increases in pulse frequency.
D000124:Achievement; D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000187:drug effects; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; C025072:lopirazepam; D008140:Lorazepam