Effects of Neurapas® balance on sleep EEG, cognitive performance and mood: A double blind randomised cross-over study in healthy volunteers

Sleep disturbance is a major feature of patients with anxiety disorders and depression. Neurapas® balance is a triple herbal combination of extracts of St. John's wort (dry extract (DE) 60mg), valerian (DE 28mg) and passiflora (DE 32mg) that is widely used for treating minor depression in Germany. We tested the effect of Neurapas® balance on mood, sleep-EEG and cognitive performance in order to evaluate its central nervous effects in humans. 20 healthy subjects were examined twice in a double-blind, randomized completely balanced cross-over design and received either placebo or Neurapas® balance (3 days 3×2 tabl.). The dependent variables were sleep-EEG parameters, mood (BSKE) and vegetative symptoms (MSKL) and cognitive performance (TAP, ZVT, d2).

Neurapas® balance significantly (compared to placebo) improved sleep continuity with a reduction of wakefulness. Non-REM-sleep was reduced in the first and significantly increased in the second sleep cycle and REM-latency was reduced. A positive trend was observed in regard to mental agitation and melancholy of the BSKE and hand-trembling and hand-moisture of the MSKL. No significant differences between Neurapas® balance and placebo were found in the cognitive performance tests.

These findings show that Neurapas® balance has central nervous effects as reflected by changes in sleep EEG. It improves sleep continuity and subjective mood without negative effects on cognitive performance. The neurophysiological effects of Neurapas® balance® on the brain and the improved mood of the healthy volunteers is consistent with it having therapeutic effects in anxiety and depression with accompanying insomnia.

Acknowledgement: This study was supported by Pascoe Pharmaceutische Preparations GmbH, Germany.