Benzodiazepine use, cognitive impairment, and cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: issues in the treatment of a patient in need.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders when used in conjunction with benzodiazepine pharmacotherapy and when used as a monotherapy. Patients using CBT alone have dropout rates similar to or lower than those patients undergoing other forms of therapy, including benzodiazepines. CBT also works well with patients who do not respond adequately to pharmacotherapy. Combined CBT and benzodiazepine treatment has additive effects when compared with benzodiazepine monotherapy; however, patients receiving combined therapy who subsequently discontinue benzodiazepine treatment experience a loss of efficacy compared with CBT and placebo, perhaps due to fear extinction being context dependent. To avoid this loss of efficacy, CBT may be administered alone or as a bridge between benzodiazepine use and discontinuation during a medication taper. The case report upon which this supplement is based questions the value of CBT for patients experiencing cognitive impairment due to an anxiety disorder, benzodiazepine medication, substance abuse, or a combination of these factors. This article addresses this concern and asserts that CBT is a valuable treatment option in these cases.
Otto
Michael W
MW
Department of Psychology and Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Bruce
Steven E
SE
Deckersbach
Thilo
T
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines