DSIP Human Research: Published Studies Reviewed

Schneider-Helmert and Schoenenberger, 1981

Acute intravenous DSIP (25 nmol/kg) was tested in 6 middle-aged chronic insomniacs.^[3]

The authors reported longer sleep duration, higher sleep quality, slightly more REM sleep and no daytime sedation. Sleep-promoting effects appeared only in the second hour after injection; a slight arousing effect was indicated in the first hour. Limitation: six participants.

Kaeser, 1984

An open study treated 7 patients with severe insomnia with a series of 10 DSIP injections.^[4]

Limitation: open-label and uncontrolled, so it cannot separate drug effect from expectation.

Monti and colleagues, 1987

A double-blind crossover study found no significant difference between DSIP and placebo.^[6]

Insomniac patients received 25 nmol/kg DSIP intravenously or placebo over four nights. Total sleep time and NREM sleep increased with DSIP, but differences versus placebo already existed at baseline.

Schneider-Helmert, 1987

A placebo-controlled, double-blind study in 14 middle-aged chronic insomniacs over 7 nights reported improved sleep and daytime function.^[7]

The author concluded DSIP was efficacious in this group. Limitation: small sample and short duration, with no large independent replication identified.

Bes and colleagues, 1992

A double-blind, matched-pairs study of 16 chronic insomniacs found weak effects and concluded DSIP was unlikely to be of major therapeutic benefit.^[8]

Sleep efficiency was higher and sleep latency shorter with DSIP than placebo, but the authors judged the significant effects weak and partly attributable to a change in the placebo group.

Is there modern replication?

This site has not identified large modern randomized trials of DSIP in humans.

Absence of identified trials is not proof none exist; the database on the studies page will be updated as sources are reviewed.

See also: DSIP studies database