[Nicergoline and cerebral performance insufficiency. Observations in 1 year treatment controls]

In 1,366 patients the effect of Nicergoline (Sermion) on symptoms was recorded for one year. Individual symptoms improved to varying degrees in the patients observed. Many influences were responsible for the recorded improvement in the condition of the patients. These included, apart from the selection, placebo effects, the effect of suggestion, increased personal attention due to the need for monitoring examinations, and the pharmacodynamic effects of the active substance. The fact that the improvement rate of several symptoms such as lack of concentration, impairment of memory, decrease in alertness, dizziness and noises in the ear was analogous to that found in placebo-controlled doubleblind studies of other workers permits the assumption, that not so much the effects of placebo and suggestion but above all the pharmacodynamics of the active substance was the important factor. Treatment, which lasted for a year resulted in an improvement in some symptoms even during the second half of the year but not in others. This provides information on the indication for long-term treatment. Analysis of the individual parameters throws light on the reliability of the information provided by the examining physician, the patient compliance and the psychological effects of the physician's activities. Parameterized values are sometimes recorded more reliably by interested auxiliary medical staff than by physicians who feel alienated from their proper duty by such technical tasks.