Sleep ===== þ Caffeine - Also didn't find anything specifically about the effects of caffeine on the *quality* of sleep, but one source noted that caffeine-induced sleep disturbances are more profound for non-caffeine users than for people who are caffeine-tolerant. [JF Greden, Am J Psychiat 1974;131:1089] þ Melatonin - A well-done randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded, cross-over study of paramedics working strings of night shifts found _no_ benefit to melatonin on either self-reported fatigue or scores on an established psychomotor skills test. The paper was presented at last summer's Natl. Assn of EMS Physicians scientific assembly, and the abstract is published in the Jul-Sep '96 Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, but I don't think the full manuscript has been published yet. David C. Cone, MD þ Caffeine vs./and Naps - the usefulness of naps is directly related to their length, and - naps are somewhat better than caffeine for about 24 hours [Bonnet MH, Gomez S, Wirth O, Arand DL. The use of caffeine versus prophylactic naps in sustained performance. Sleep 1995; 18:97-104.] Abstract: - combination of a nap + caffeine will keep you alert for 24 hours without sleep [Bonnet MH, Arand DL. The use of prophylactic naps and caffeine to maintain performance during a continuous operation. Ergonomics 1994; 37:1009-20.] Abstract: - An afternoon nap is better than taking catnaps during the night for staying alert on a night shift. [Bonnet MH, Arand DL. Impact of naps and caffeine on extended nocturnal performance. Physiol Behav 1994; 56:103-9.] Abstract: þ Thinking Slower at Night? (Internet Thread)