Learning and memory impairment in older, detoxified, benzodiazepine-dependent patients.
The effects of benzodiazepine dependence on the ability to learn and remember new material (determined with the Auditory-Verbal Learning Test) were studied in 20 detoxified, benzodiazepine-dependent patients who were 55 years of age or older and in a drug-dependence rehabilitation program. The patients were matched approximately for age, sex, and IQ with 20 detoxified, alcohol-dependent patients in the same rehabilitation program and 22 control subjects from a community sample. Neuropsychologic testing was performed a mean of 6 to 10 days after the patients had been completely detoxified from the addicting substance. The benzodiazepine-dependent patients had more difficulty with tests of learning and short-term and delayed recall than did the alcohol-dependent or control group. The difference between the benzodiazepine-dependent patients and the control group was statistically significant. The results suggest that benzodiazepine dependence in older people can cause memory impairment that persists into the early drug-free period.
Rummans
T A
TA
Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota 55905.
Davis
L J
LJ
Morse
R M
RM
Ivnik
R J
RJ
D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000503:physiopathology; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*
D001569:Benzodiazepines