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Weleff J, Anand A, Squeri M, Sieke R, Thompson NR, Barnett BS. An Analysis of Benzodiazepine Prescribing to Primary Care Patients in a Large Healthcare System from 2019-2020. J Psychoactive Drugs 2024; 56:245-256. [PMID: 36940298 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2023.2191610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023]
Abstract
We sought to quantify benzodiazepine prescribing by primary care providers from 2019 to 2020 and identify correlates of prescribing. We hypothesized prescribing would increase post-COVID-19 lockdown. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with primary care visits in 2019 or 2020 in a large Ohio healthcare system. Demographics, diagnosis codes, and receipt of benzodiazepine prescriptions were collected. Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined factors associated with benzodiazepine prescription receipt during the whole study period and post-lockdown. 455,537 adult patients had 1,643,473 visits. Benzodiazepines were prescribed in 3.2% (53,049/1,643,473) of visits. Effect sizes for positive associations with benzodiazepine prescription were largest for anxiety disorders. For negative associations, they were largest for Black patients and patients with cocaine use disorder. Benzodiazepine prescribing was positively associated with multiple groups having contraindications, though effect sizes were small. Contrary to our hypothesis, odds of receiving a prescription were 8.8% lower post-lockdown. Benzodiazepine prescribing rates in our system compared favorably to national rates. Year over year odds of receiving a prescription were slightly lower post-lockdown. Racial disparities were present and deserve further study. Strategies to reduce benzodiazepine prescribing to patients with anxiety may yield the largest reductions for benzodiazepine prescribing in primary care settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Weleff
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Center for Behavioral Health, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Akhil Anand
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Center for Behavioral Health, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
- EC-10 Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Michael Squeri
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Center for Behavioral Health, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Rachel Sieke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Center for Behavioral Health, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Nicolas R Thompson
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Neurological Institute, Center for Outcomes Research & Evaluation, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Brian S Barnett
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Center for Behavioral Health, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
- EC-10 Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
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Pavlova B, Warnock-Parkes E, Alda M, Uher R, Clark DM. Cognitive behavioural therapy for social anxiety disorder in people with bipolar disorder: a case series. Int J Bipolar Disord 2024; 12:1. [PMID: 38180531 PMCID: PMC10769945 DOI: 10.1186/s40345-023-00321-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social anxiety disorder increases the likelihood of unfavourable outcomes in people with bipolar disorder. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is the first-line treatment for social anxiety disorder. However, people with bipolar disorder have been excluded from the studies that this recommendation is based on. METHOD: We completed a case series to obtain initial data on whether CBT is an acceptable, safe, and effective treatment for social anxiety disorder in people with bipolar disorder. RESULTS Eleven euthymic participants with bipolar disorder attended up to sixteen treatment and three follow-up sessions of CBT for social anxiety disorder. Participants attended on average 95% of the offered CBT sessions. No adverse events were reported. Participants' mean score on the Social Phobia Inventory decreased from 46.5 (SD 6.6) before the treatment to 19.8 (SD 11.9) at the end of the sixteen-session intervention and further to 15.8 (SD 10.3) by the end of the 3-month follow-up. This degree of improvement is equivalent to the effect observed in studies of CBT for social anxiety disorder in people without severe mental illness. CONCLUSIONS This case series provides preliminary evidence that CBT is acceptable, safe, and effective for treating social anxiety disorder in people with bipolar disorder during euthymia. A randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm these findings, and to establish whether treatment for social anxiety disorder improves the course of bipolar disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Pavlova
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, 5909 Veterans' Memorial Lane, Halifax, NS, B3H 2E2, Canada.
- Nova Scotia Health, Halifax, NS, Canada.
| | - Emma Warnock-Parkes
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- King's College London, London, UK
| | - Martin Alda
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, 5909 Veterans' Memorial Lane, Halifax, NS, B3H 2E2, Canada
- Nova Scotia Health, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Rudolf Uher
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, 5909 Veterans' Memorial Lane, Halifax, NS, B3H 2E2, Canada
- Nova Scotia Health, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - David M Clark
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Mills J. The Use of Benzodiazepines in Individuals with Bipolar Disorder: A Look at Recent Literature. Issues Ment Health Nurs 2023; 44:1171-1173. [PMID: 38015821 DOI: 10.1080/01612840.2023.2279004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Mills
- College of Nursing, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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Johnson DE, McIntyre RS, Mansur RB, Rosenblat JD. An update on potential pharmacotherapies for cognitive impairment in bipolar disorder. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2023; 24:641-654. [PMID: 36946229 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2023.2194488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cognitive impairment is a core feature of bipolar disorder (BD) that impedes recovery by preventing the return to optimal socio-occupational functioning and reducing quality of life. Presently, there are no efficacious treatments for cognitive impairment in BD, but many pharmacological interventions are being considered as they have the potential to target the underlying pathophysiology of the disorder. AREAS COVERED This review summarizes the available evidence for pharmacological interventions for cognitive impairment in bipolar disorder. We searched PubMed, MedLine, and PsycInfo from inception to December 1st, 2022. Traditional treatments, such as lithium, anticonvulsants (lamotrigine), antipsychotics (aripiprazole, asenapine, cariprazine, lurasidone, and olanzapine), antidepressants (vortioxetine, fluoxetine, and tianeptine) and psychostimulants (modafinil), and emerging interventions, such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (galantamine and donepezil), dopamine agonists (pramipexole), erythropoietin, glucocorticoid receptor antagonists (mifepristone), immune modulators (infliximab, minocycline and doxycycline), ketamine, metabolic agents (insulin, metformin, and liraglutide), probiotic supplements, and Withania somnifera are discussed. EXPERT OPINION The investigation of interventions for cognitive impairment in BD is a relatively under-researched area. In the past, methodological pitfalls in BD cognition trials have also been a critical limiting factor. Expanding on the existing literature and identifying novel pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for cognitive impairment in BD should be a priority.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danica E Johnson
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit (MDPU), Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Roger S McIntyre
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit (MDPU), Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Rodrigo B Mansur
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit (MDPU), Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Joshua D Rosenblat
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit (MDPU), Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Canada
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Jing P, Su J, Zheng C, Mei X, Zhang X. A retrospective study of psychotropic drug treatments in bipolar disorder at acute and maintenance episodes. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1057780. [PMID: 36824669 PMCID: PMC9942488 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1057780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bipolar disorder (BD) is predominantly treated with psychotropic drugs, but BD is a complex medical condition and the contribution of psychotropic drugs is not clear. The objectives of this study are: (1) to present psychotropic drugs used in patients with BD; (2) to access changes of psychotropic drug treatments in acute and maintenance episodes. METHODS The study retrospectively evaluated the medical records of inpatients in the Ningbo Kangning Hospital from January 2019 to December 2019. The medical history of each subject was collected completely, including sociodemographic (gender, age, marital status, and so on) and clinical characteristics at baseline and within 12 months of admission. RESULTS The study ultimately included 204 patients with BD. After 12 months, 73.0% of the patients still took drugs. Mood stabilizers (72-90%) and antipsychotics (77-95%) were still the most important drugs in patients with BD. Antidepressants (34-40%) and benzodiazepines (20-34%) were the other frequently used drug classes. For mood stabilizers, 40-56% of patients were prescribed lithium. For antipsychotic, 54-65% of patients were prescribed quetiapine. Sertraline (6-9%) and fluoxetine (5-9%) were the antidepressant that most frequently prescribed. Lorazepam (10-18%) was the most commonly used benzodiazepine. In psychotropic polypharmacy, the most frequently taken was mood stabilizer plus antipsychotic co-treatment, about 36-44% of all patients. A total of 35-48% of patients treated by two psychotropic drugs and 24-36% received three. CONCLUSION The first 6 months after treatment is very important to medication adherence. Mood stabilizers and antipsychotic remained the primary treatment for BD. Antipsychotic is on the rise in the treatment of BD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan Jing
- School of Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Department of Psychiatric, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Jianjun Su
- Department of Psychiatric, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Chengying Zheng
- Department of Psychiatric, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Xi Mei
- Department of Psychiatric, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Xiaobin Zhang
- School of Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Department of Psychiatric, Suzhou Guangji Hospital, Suzhou, China
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Poranen J, Koistinaho A, Tanskanen A, Tiihonen J, Taipale H, Lähteenvuo M. Twenty-year medication use trends in first-episode bipolar disorder. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2022; 146:583-593. [PMID: 36177718 PMCID: PMC9828455 DOI: 10.1111/acps.13504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To study the medication use patterns in patients newly diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BD) in Finland during the past 20 years. METHODS All persons diagnosed with BD between 1996 and 2018, aged 16-65 years, with no previous BD diagnosis were identified from nationwide Finnish registers (N = 26,395). The point prevalences of medication use were observed up until 5 years after the first diagnosis. Five sub-cohorts according to calendar year of first diagnosis were also formed and the prevalence of medication use was compared between sub-cohorts 3 months after diagnosis. Medication data were modeled with the PRE2DUP-method using dispensing data. RESULTS The prevalence of overall medication use declined during the 5-year follow-up period in the total cohort. The highest prevalence of use was seen 3 months after diagnosis for the three main medication classes-antidepressants (40.8%), antipsychotics (30.8%) and mood stabilizers (29.2%). The prevalence of lithium use varied between 5.9% and 6.5% during the 5 years in the total cohort, and the lowest prevalence of use at 3 months was seen in sub-cohort diagnosed in 2016-2018 (4.1%) versus 12.1% in 1996-2000 sub-cohort. The prevalence of benzodiazepine use was between 12.4% and 13.5% and the prevalence of Z-drugs was between 7.3% and 7.9% during the 5 years. The prevalence of long-acting injectable antipsychotic (LAI) use was the highest in patients diagnosed in 2016-2018, although still only 0.8%. CONCLUSIONS (i) The use of antidepressants is too prevalent, (ii) the use of lithium is declining and needs to be increased, and (iii) LAIs are markedly underutilized as compared to their oral counterparts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juulia Poranen
- Department of Forensic PsychiatryUniversity of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi HospitalKuopioFinland
| | - Aura Koistinaho
- Department of Forensic PsychiatryUniversity of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi HospitalKuopioFinland
| | - Antti Tanskanen
- Department of Forensic PsychiatryUniversity of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi HospitalKuopioFinland,Department of Clinical NeuroscienceKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- Department of Forensic PsychiatryUniversity of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi HospitalKuopioFinland,Department of Clinical NeuroscienceKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden,Center for Psychiatry ResearchStockholm City CouncilStockholmSweden
| | - Heidi Taipale
- Department of Forensic PsychiatryUniversity of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi HospitalKuopioFinland,Department of Clinical NeuroscienceKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden,School of PharmacyUniversity of Eastern FinlandKuopioFinland
| | - Markku Lähteenvuo
- Department of Forensic PsychiatryUniversity of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi HospitalKuopioFinland
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Timko C, Hoggatt KJ, Esmaeili A, Lewis E, Lor MC, Maust DT, Nevedal AL. Long-Term Benzodiazepine Use and Discontinuation Among Patients in the U.S. Veterans Health Administration. Psychiatr Serv 2022; 73:1217-1224. [PMID: 35502517 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.202100617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although long-term benzodiazepine use is not recommended, patients are often prescribed benzodiazepines for >30 days (long-term use). Data from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) may inform efforts to discontinue such use. This study sought to describe benzodiazepine use and discontinuation among VHA patients and compared patients who continued and discontinued use. METHODS The study used nationwide electronic health record data for all VHA-enrolled patients (age ≥18) from fiscal year (FY) 2019 (N=6,032,613). The primary outcome, benzodiazepine discontinuation, was defined as no prescription refill for 120 days. RESULTS In FY2019, 3.5% of VHA enrollees were prescribed benzodiazepines for >30 days, which was 72.0% of those prescribed benzodiazepines. One-third of veterans prescribed long-term benzodiazepines discontinued use. Continuation was more likely among patients who were older, not Black, taking benzodiazepines longer, and taking higher doses. When demographic factors were controlled, patients who continued long-term use were more likely to have a diagnosis of anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, or psychosis and less likely to have depression or an alcohol or drug use disorder. Continuation was associated with a lower likelihood of sleep and cardiopulmonary disorders and of dementia. CONCLUSIONS Higher discontinuation prevalence among patients with substance use disorders, dementia, or cardiopulmonary disorders is encouraging. However, the challenge remains of discontinuing long-term use among patients who are White, older, or diagnosed as having anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, or psychosis. There is a need to identify provider, patient, and contextual factors driving long-term benzodiazepine use in these patient groups to effectively apply evidence-based discontinuation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Timko
- Center for Innovation to Implementation (Timko, Lor, Nevedal) and Program Evaluation and Resource Center (Lewis), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California (Timko); San Francisco VA Medical Center and Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco (Hoggatt); VA Health Economics Resource Center, Menlo Park, California (Esmaeili); Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, and Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor (Maust)
| | - Katherine J Hoggatt
- Center for Innovation to Implementation (Timko, Lor, Nevedal) and Program Evaluation and Resource Center (Lewis), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California (Timko); San Francisco VA Medical Center and Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco (Hoggatt); VA Health Economics Resource Center, Menlo Park, California (Esmaeili); Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, and Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor (Maust)
| | - Aryan Esmaeili
- Center for Innovation to Implementation (Timko, Lor, Nevedal) and Program Evaluation and Resource Center (Lewis), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California (Timko); San Francisco VA Medical Center and Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco (Hoggatt); VA Health Economics Resource Center, Menlo Park, California (Esmaeili); Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, and Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor (Maust)
| | - Eleanor Lewis
- Center for Innovation to Implementation (Timko, Lor, Nevedal) and Program Evaluation and Resource Center (Lewis), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California (Timko); San Francisco VA Medical Center and Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco (Hoggatt); VA Health Economics Resource Center, Menlo Park, California (Esmaeili); Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, and Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor (Maust)
| | - Mai Chee Lor
- Center for Innovation to Implementation (Timko, Lor, Nevedal) and Program Evaluation and Resource Center (Lewis), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California (Timko); San Francisco VA Medical Center and Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco (Hoggatt); VA Health Economics Resource Center, Menlo Park, California (Esmaeili); Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, and Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor (Maust)
| | - Donovan T Maust
- Center for Innovation to Implementation (Timko, Lor, Nevedal) and Program Evaluation and Resource Center (Lewis), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California (Timko); San Francisco VA Medical Center and Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco (Hoggatt); VA Health Economics Resource Center, Menlo Park, California (Esmaeili); Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, and Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor (Maust)
| | - Andrea L Nevedal
- Center for Innovation to Implementation (Timko, Lor, Nevedal) and Program Evaluation and Resource Center (Lewis), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California (Timko); San Francisco VA Medical Center and Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco (Hoggatt); VA Health Economics Resource Center, Menlo Park, California (Esmaeili); Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, and Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor (Maust)
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