A quantitative EEG analysis of the effects of baclofen on man

The therapeutic potential of aminoacid derivatives has been recognized because of the important role aminoacides play in neurotransmission. Among the aminoacids derivatives tested in clinic, beta (parachlorophe-nyl)- gamma amino butyric acid (baclofen) a GABA derivative has proved to be very useful. The present investigation has been directed to estimate to what extent this drug is active at the brain level. Since normal volunteers given psychoactive substances would, to a certain extent, exhibit the same range of behavioural and physiological effects observed in the patient's population (Fink 1977) and in order to avoid the complexity of discriminating among the many drugs used in psychotic patients, non psychotic, male volunteers, in patients of age range 36–69 years were selected. These patients presented a long period of mild alcohol abuse without major complication, and exhibiting normal physical and laboratory findings.All patients showed a predominant symptom of mild depression. The investigation b...