title: Cognitive impairment in long-term benzodiazepine users.
abstract: In view of the very extensive and often prolonged use of benzodiazepines in therapeutic practice, this study was designed to investigate whether or not cognitive ability is impaired in long-term benzodiazepine users, and to determine the nature and extent of any deficit. Fifty patients currently taking benzodiazepines for at least one year, thirty-four who had stopped taking benzodiazepines, and a matched control group of subjects who had never taken benzodiazepines or who had taken benzodiazepines in the past for less than one year were administered a battery of neuropsychological tests designed to measure a wide range of cognitive functions. It was found that patients taking high doses of benzodiazepines for long periods of time perform poorly on tasks involving visual-spatial ability and sustained attention. This is consistent with deficits in posterior cortical cognitive function.
mesh_terms: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines