The authors consider the creation of a database of experimental findings on drugs and driving the only way to overcome existing shortcomings in evaluating experimental studies in this area. This paper aims to demonstrate the opportunities of using data collection to evaluate some hypnotic drugs, including sedatives. The basic concept for encoding the results of published experimental studies was to encode quality criteria of the studies' designs as well as detailed descriptions of the drugs and their effects. For this purpose, a summary report in computer-readable form consists of: (1) identification of the trial, the publication, its authors, the questions being investigated, and the study design; (2) description of the experimental sample, including basic quality criteria; (3) details of the drug administration and its timing, and the profile of drug effects. The categories used for encoding drug effects were: (1) reaction behaviour; (2) tracking; (3) attention and concentration; (4) divided attention; (5) encoding and decoding; (6) visual functions; (7) psychomotor skills; (8) mood; (9) aggressive behaviour; (10) social behaviour; (11) other psychophysiological measures. Some characteristics of the studies are indicated, and the performance profiles of several drugs are described.
Samenvatting