Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Melatonin and insomnia

C M Ellis1, G Lemmens, J D Parkes

  • 1University Department of Neurology, King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.

Journal of Sleep Research
|March 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

[Psychiatric nursing or mental health nursing: a Flemish Job advertising analysis].

Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie·2025
Same author

Assessing accelerated iTBS in treatment-resistant melancholic depression: Doubling the number of pulses per session does not double the response rates.

Brain stimulation·2025
Same author

[Neurosteroids as treatment of postpartum depression: a critical literature review].

Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie·2025
Same author

[The vision of interdisciplinary teams on an ambulatory nursing consultation].

Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie·2023
Same author

[Autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia: a challenging differential diagnosis].

Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie·2023
Same author

[Depression and intermittent hypercortisolism: a difficult differential diagnostic process].

Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie·2022
Same journal

Postmortem Evidence of CRH Neuron Reduction in Narcolepsy Without Cataplexy With Borderline Hypocretin-1 Levels.

Journal of sleep research·2026
Same journal

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Versus Mandibular Advancement Devices Impact on Cardio-Metabolic Outcomes in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.

Journal of sleep research·2026
Same journal

Strong and Weak Episodic Memories Are Shaped by Multiple Cycles of NREM Spindles and REM Alpha Bursts.

Journal of sleep research·2026
Same journal

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Biological Sex Differences in Sleep Spindles and Slow Wave Activity in Adults With and Without Insomnia.

Journal of sleep research·2026
Same journal

Thoracoabdominal Asynchrony in Healthy Children.

Journal of sleep research·2026
Same journal

Chronotype and Time of Day Effects in Oddball Task Performance: Behavioural and Cerebral Correlates.

Journal of sleep research·2026
See all related articles

Melatonin (5 mg) did not improve sleep quality or next-day function in individuals with psychophysiological insomnia. While some subjects perceived minor subjective sleep improvement, objective measures and side effects suggest limited clinical value.

Area of Science:

  • Sleep Medicine
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Psychophysiological insomnia is a common sleep disorder.
  • Melatonin is a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles and is often used as a sleep aid.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the hypnotic effects of melatonin in individuals with psychophysiological insomnia.
  • To assess the impact of melatonin on sleep quality, sleep onset, total sleep time, and next-day functioning.

Main Methods:

  • A double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 15 subjects with psychophysiological insomnia.
  • Participants received melatonin (5 mg) or placebo orally at 20:00 for one week in a randomized order.
  • Sleep and wakefulness were monitored using visual analogue scales and structured interviews.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Melatonin did not significantly alter bedtime, sleep onset time, total sleep/wake time, or self-rated sleep quality.
  • Next-day functioning estimates remained unchanged.
  • While objective sleep parameters were unaffected, 7 out of 15 subjects reported minor subjective sleep improvement during melatonin treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Melatonin (5 mg) demonstrated no significant clinical benefit for psychophysiological insomnia.
  • Reported side effects included headache and an altered taste, further questioning its utility.
  • The findings suggest melatonin is likely not a valuable treatment option for this condition.