title: Tryptophan for the sleeping disorder and mental symptom of new-type drug dependence: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  New-type drugs are popular with adolescents and could lead to psychiatry disorders, but no medications have been proven to be effective for these disorders of new-type drug dependence. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of tryptophan on sleeping disorders and mental symptoms in detoxified individuals with new-type drug dependence.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized, placebo-controlled trial included 80 detoxified individuals with new-type drug dependence, recruited successively from a Compulsory Residential Drug Abstinence Institution in Wuhan, China, from April 2012 to November 2012. Eligible participants were randomly allocated to be treated with tryptophan (1000 mg/d, n = 40) or placebo (n = 40) for 2 weeks. The sleeping disorders and mental symptoms were assessed using Athens Insomnia Scale and Symptom Check-List-90 at baseline and 2 weeks. Results were analyzed according to the "intention-to-treat" approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-five participants completed the 2-week study, 24 in the tryptophan group and 21 in the placebo group. There were no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics between groups and the treatment adherence was similar between groups. The reduction in the Athens Insomnia Scale score in the tryptophan group was significantly greater than that in the placebo group (P = 0.017). However, no significant differences were found in Symptom Check-List-90 scores (either by individual dimension or the overall score) between groups (all P > 0.05). The frequency of adverse events was similar and no serious adverse events were reported during the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tryptophan was unlikely to be effective for mental symptoms, but could alleviate sleep disorders in short term among detoxified individuals with new-type drug dependence. Future large-scale trials are required to confirm findings from this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan Hospital for the Prevention and Treatment of Occupational Diseases Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Compulsory Residential Drug Abstinence Institution, Wuhan Public Security Bureau, Wuhan, China Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Dongming
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wenzhen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Wulong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Weiquan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Longyu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jincong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Fujian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Zengzhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014364:Tryptophan