title: [Long-term use of benzodiazepines].
abstract: Benzodiazepines are the most prescribed drugs in the Netherlands. There is scarcely an indication for long-term benzodiazepine use. Long-term use may lead to dependency and is associated with an increased risk of accidents/falls and cognitive function impairment. Therefore national and international guidelines advocate a conservative prescription policy, especially with respect to long-term prescription. It appears that these guidelines are not followed in practice. A standard sized general practice in the Netherlands contains, on average, 75 long-term benzodiazepine users. There appear to be both patient and GP related factors which influence the maintenance of this long-term use of benzodiazepines.
authors.affiliation: Universitair Medisch Centrum St Radboud, afd. Psychiatrie, Postbus 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen. w.gorgels@czzopsy.azn.nl
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Gorgels
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Oude Voshaar
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Mol
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Breteler
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: van de Lisdonk
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Zitman
mesh_terms: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000592:standards*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013995:Time
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines