Correlates of benzodiazepine use in individuals with insomnia.
OBJECTIVE
Although benzodiazepines (BZDs) are commonly used in the treatment of insomnia, there is little information about psychological, health, and sociodemographic correlates associated with their use.


OBJECTIVE
This study examined correlates of benzodiazepine use for sleep in a clinical sample of patients seeking treatment for insomnia at a sleep disorders clinic.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 97 individuals evaluated at a sleep disorders clinic for a presenting complaint of insomnia. Two groups were formed, including one with 61 patients who had been using BZDs for sleep for an average of 56.6 months (SD=68.0), and another with 36 patients who had insomnia but were not using BZDs or any other sleep aid. Logistic regressions, adjusting for an age difference between the user and non-user groups, were performed to examine variables associated with BZD use. Independent variables included demographic, medical, insomnia-related and psychological parameters and subjective sleep-wake characteristics. Unadjusted regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with a pattern of long-term use (>12 months) within the user group.


RESULTS
Age was a significant predictor of BZD use (OR=1.84, P = 0.0002). Significant age-adjusted predictors of BZD use included perceived insomnia severity (OR=1.17, P = 0.038), depressive symptoms, (OR=1.108, P = 0.009) and state and trait anxiety symptoms (OR=1.062, P = 0.016; OR=1.084, P = 0.005, respectively). Significant predictors of long-term use (>12 months) were age of insomnia onset (OR=0.951, P = 0.0214), more frequent BZD use (OR=3.284, P = 0.0221), and higher state-anxiety (OR=1.106, P = 0.0471).


CONCLUSIONS
Age, psychological variables and perceived sleep disturbances severity, are associated with BZD use in patients with insomnia.
Morin
Charles M
CM
Université Laval, Quebec, Canada. cmorin@psy.ulaval.ca
Bélanger
Lynda
L
Bernier
François
F
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D001569:Benzodiazepines