title: Tapering off long-term benzodiazepine use with or without group cognitive-behavioural therapy: three-condition, randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Benzodiazepine withdrawal programmes have never been experimentally compared with a nonintervention control condition.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of tapering off long-term benzodiazepine use in general practice, and to evaluate the value of additional group cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT).
  
  
  METHODS
  A 3-month randomised, 3-month controlled trial was conducted in which 180 people attempting to discontinue long-term benzodiazepine use were assigned to tapering off plus group CBT, tapering off alone or usual care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tapering off led to a significantly higher proportion of successful discontinuations than usual care (62% nu. 21%). Adding group CBT did not increase the success rate (58% v. 62%). Neither successful discontinuation nor intervention type affected psychological functioning. Both tapering strategies showed good feasibilityin general practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tapering off is a feasible and effective way of discontinuing long-term benzodiazepine use in general practice. The addition of group CBT is of limited value.
authors.affiliation: University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. r.oudevoshaar@psy.umcn.nl
authors.forename: R C Oude
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Voshaar
authors.forename: W J M J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Gorgels
authors.forename: A J J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Mol
authors.forename: A J L M
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van Balkom
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: van de Lisdonk
authors.forename: M H M
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Breteler
authors.forename: H J M
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: van den Hoogen
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Zitman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D003975:Diazepam