Long-term outcome of two forms of randomised benzodiazepine discontinuation.
About two-thirds of long-term users of benzodiazepines in the population are able to discontinue this drug with the aid of supervised programmes for tapering off. Little is known about the long-term outcome of such programmes, and they have never been compared with usual care. After a 15-month follow-up of a randomised controlled trial comparing such a programme with and without psychotherapy with usual care, we found significantly higher longitudinal abstinence rates in long-term benzodiazepine users who received a benzodiazepine tapering-off programme without psychotherapy (25 out of 69, 36%) compared with those who received usual care (5 out of 33,15%; P=0.03).
Oude Voshaar
R C
RC
Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. r.oudevoshaar@psy.umcn.nl
Gorgels
W J M J
WJ
Mol
A J J
AJ
van Balkom
A J L M
AJ
Mulder
J
J
van de Lisdonk
E H
EH
Breteler
M H M
MH
Zitman
F G
FG
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines