title: [Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome. Problems of differential diagnosis against depression, panic attacks and generalized anxiety].
abstract: Anxiety and mood disorders are among the psychic afflictions which tend to lead to prolonged benzodiazepine intake. This is also one of the reasons why doctors are faced with a difficult task when having to differentiate between these phenomena and the anxiolytic withdrawal syndrome. Since preexisting psychiatric pathology may modify withdrawal symptoms, thus making differential diagnosis between withdrawal syndrome and recrudescence of the previous disorder even more difficult, it is necessary carefully to assess clinical phenomenology both in relation to its course and to its variability with possible emergence of new symptoms. In addition to drawing attention to the diagnostic elements that can be most useful for identifying the withdrawal syndrome in mood disturbances and panic attack disorder, the authors also report the data of an experimental study of benzodiazepine withdrawal in patients suffering from generalized anxiety.
authors.affiliation: Servizio Salute Mentale, U.S.L. 19. La Spezia, Università degli Studi di Pisa.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petracca
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michelini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perugi
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Cassano
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010200:Panic; D011581:Psychological Tests; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001569:Benzodiazepines; D008140:Lorazepam
vernacular_title: La sindrome da astinenza da benzodiazepine. Problemi di diagnosi differenziale con depressione, attacchi di panico e ansia generalizzata.