[Short- and long-term results of a systematic benzodiazepine discontinuation programme for psychiatric patients]

BACKGROUND

Although guidelines for the use of benzodiazepines emphasise that these drugs should only be prescribedfor short periods of time, in practice long-term usage persists and can be a serious problem. There is afear among patients and among doctors prescribing the drugs that symptoms will become more acute if attempts are made to terminate the regimen.

AIM

To determine the short- and long-term results of a standardized method for discontinuing the use of benzodiazepines (BZD) and to test whether these results were related to the age and gender of the patients, the BZD dosage level and the treatment modality.

METHOD

A retrospective cohort study was performed at the Department of Psychiatry of the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre. A systematic BZD discontinuation programme was offered by the Department of Psychiatry to patients who had been using BZD for at least three months. By studying the medical records, by conducting telephone interviews and by examining the prescription data of the GP or the pharmacy it was ascertained how many patients managed to become abstinent in the short- and long-term.

RESULTS

Upon termination of the discontinuation programme 65% of the patients had managed to stop taking BZD and at follow-up approximately 2 years later 37% of the patients interviewed had not used BZD for the last 3 months. Neither age, nor gender, nor treatment modality predicted BZD usage immediately after the end of the discontinuation programme or at the 2-year follow-up. A high dose of BZD was the only significant predictor of post-programme usage 2 years later.

CONCLUSION

A systematic discontinuation programme seems to be just as effective for psychiatric patients as it isfor general practice patients and deserves to be included in the regular treatment programmes provided by psychiatric practices.

[Predicting the success of a benzodiazepine discontinuation programme: myths or clinical wisdom?]

BACKGROUND

After successful completion of a benzodiazepine withdrawal programme it nevertheless is hard to remain abstinent in the long term.

AIM

To determine to what extent the success of a benzodiazepine discontinuation programme for psychiatric patients with chronic benzodiazepine use (> or = 3 months) can be predicted from the severity of the anxiety, sleep disorders and depressive symptoms, and from the level of benzodiazepine dependence. The predictive values of coping style and personality characteristics were also studied.

METHOD

A prognostic cohort study with patients of the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre was conducted. Before entering the programme 92 patients were given a psychological assessment. Anxiety level, benzodiazepine dependence, coping style and personality traits were measured by means of psychological questionnaires. The DSM-IV axis I classification for each patient was known. Patients who had stopped their medication immediately after the discontinuation programme ended (n = 6o) were compared with patients who had not been successful in completing the programme (n = 32). Thereafter, patients who were still abstinent at the follow-up about 2 years later (n = 25) were compared with patients who at that time /used benzodiazepine (n = 43).

RESULTS

Of all the variables examined, it was only a specific coping style whereby patients expressed their (negative) emotions which was associated with the short- and long-term success of the discontinuation programme. The more patients expressed their negative emotions, the greater the chance of a successful outcome and permanent abstinence. Coping style, however, predicted for only a small proportion of the variance in the success of the discontinuation programme.

CONCLUSION

The psychological characteristics and the DSM-IV axis I classifications should not exert undue influence on the clinician's decision to advise the patient to stop or continue taking benzodiazepines.