Factors predicting long-term outcome after chronic benzodiazepine therapy.
41 patients who took part in a withdrawal programme from long-term treatment with diazepam in a controlled clinical trial were followed up five years later. Assessments were made of outcome derived from clinical symptomatology, formal psychiatric diagnosis, psychotropic drug use and frequency of contact with both primary care and psychiatric services. Using discriminant function analysis it was found that better outcome was associated with younger patients, fewer symptoms at time of withdrawal and, more particularly, six months later, less personality disturbance, and longer duration of diazepam use before withdrawal. The implications are discussed with particular reference to policies for withdrawing benzodiazepines.
Holton
A
A
Long Grove Hospital, Epsom, Surrey, UK.
Riley
P
P
Tyrer
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003975:Diazepam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology
D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003975:Diazepam