title: Melatonin does not reduce anxiety more than placebo in the elderly undergoing surgery.
abstract: Melatonin has been reported to reduce preoperative anxiety. We performed this study to compare preoperative anxiety in elderly patients receiving melatonin (M) or placebo (P). Anxiety was measured in patients aged >65 yr by a numerical rating scale (range, 0-10). Each patient was randomized to receive M 10 mg or P orally: 71 patients were in group P and 67 in group M. The median (quartiles) anxiety level was 5 (2-8) before and 3 (1-7) 90 min after premedication in group M and 5 (3-6) and 3 (1-5) in group P, respectively. M and P reduce anxiety in elderly patients to a similar degree.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical, Anesthetic and Radiological Sciences, Section of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Hospital of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. cpm@unife.it
authors.forename: Maurizia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capuzzo
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zanardi
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schiffino
authors.forename: Cosimetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buccoliero
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gragnaniello
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alvisi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011229:Preanesthetic Medication; D011300:Preoperative Care
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D008550:Melatonin