title: Are patterns of benzodiazepine use predictable? A follow-up study of benzodiazepine users.
abstract: A sample of 171 patients taking benzodiazepines (BZDs) who had been investigated in 1988 was followed up in 1991. From 140 patients who were still alive and willing to participate, 25% had stopped BZDs after an average duration of intake of 34 months. Of the 105 persons still taking a BZD, 37% were taking the same dose, 26% had reduced the dose and 37% had increased it. Characteristics of BZD long-term users and patients potentially at risk for abuse and/or dependence that were established from the 1988 data were reexamined: patients with continued BZD use more often suffered from somatic illness which often had deteriorated, they had a longer duration of intake and used higher daily doses. In most cases the indication was insomnia. Patients with a clinically relevant dose increase were more often males, frequently found to be dependent on alcohol and/or illegal drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Innsbruck University Hospital, Austria.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barnas
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Whitworth
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Fleischhacker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines