A single dose study of trazodone with an assessment of its effect on mood and arousal

1 A pharmacokinetic study of a single oral dose of a new antidepressant (trazodone) is described, linked to an attempt to measure changes in mood and arousal induced by the drug in normal subjects. 2 The drug had a measurable effect on arousal, but not on mood. It caused bradycardia (compared with placebo) and this persisted through the following night's sleep. This effect has not been completely explained. 3 The technique of mood and arousal measurement employed in this study seems potentially useful.