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Publication AbstractsMelatonin efficacy in aviation missions requiring rapid deployment and night operations.Comperatore CA, Lieberman HB, Kirby AW, Adams B, Crowley JSAviat Space Environ Med 1996; 67:520-4 AbstractBackground: The rapid deployment of Army aviation personnel across time zones, combined with missions beginning immediately upon arrival, results in desynchronization of physiological and cognitive performance rhythms. Implementation of effective countermeasures enhances safety, health, well-being and mission completion. The naturally occurring hormone melatonin has been suggested as an effective countermeasure for jet lag and shift lag because of its influence on the human circadian timing system and its hypnotic properties. Method: The efficacy of melatonin (10mg) in maintaining stable sleep/wake cycles of Army aircrew was tested during a training mission involving rapid deployment to the Middle east and night operations. cognitive performance was tested before and after travel; activity rhythms were recorded continuously for 13d. Results: Melatonin treatment advanced both bedtimes and rise times (2 - 3h) and maintained sleep durations between 7 - 8 h. Placebo treatment was mostly associated with longer advances in rise times that bedtimes resulting in shorter sleep durations ( 5 - 7 h). Upon awakening, the melatonin group exhibited significantly fewer errors (mean: 7, 45) than the placebo group (mean: 14, 50) in a dual task vigilance test. Conclusion: Melatonin can be a useful treatment for the prevention of sleep disruption and cognitive degradation, even in the uncontrolled environments characteristic of military deployments.
Information on subscribing, and on obtaining copies of an article or of an entire issue. Table of Contents for Volume 67, Number 6 of the ASEM journal.
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