title: Alternative treatments for withdrawing the long-term benzodiazepine user: a pilot study.
abstract: Anxiolytic therapy with benzodiazepines and their potential for dependence are reviewed. Relaxation training and biofeedback have been used for chemically dependent anxious patients. These techniques have been recommended for benzodiazepine-dependent patients, but not investigated. Previous withdrawal studies offer only limited follow-up data. Stress management treatment was based on a successful case study. Recruitment difficulties were encountered. However, seven patients were randomly assigned to stress management or brief psycho-therapy. All showed improvement, but three of four patients available for 1 year follow-up had returned to pretreatment dependence. These withdrawal difficulties suggest the need for more effective treatments and more adequate follow-up studies.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Nathan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Cherek
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Sebastian
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hack
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Davison
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003376:Counseling; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008875:Middle Aged; D009126:Muscle Relaxation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines