Older primary care patients' willingness to consider discontinuation of chronic benzodiazepines.
OBJECTIVE
To examine factors related to older primary care patients' willingness to consider tapering/discontinuation of long-term benzodiazepine use.


METHODS
Forty-six long-term anxiolytic benzodiazepine users, aged 61-95 years, were assessed over the telephone using a semi-structured qualitative interview and standardized self-report questionnaires for anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), depression (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale), psychological dependence on benzodiazepines (Severity of Dependence Scale), and anxiety sensitivity (Anxiety Sensitivity Index).


RESULTS
Frequency of daily benzodiazepine intake and anxiety sensitivity significantly contributed to willingness to attempt taper/discontinuation of benzodiazepines.


CONCLUSIONS
Many older long-term benzodiazepine users and their physicians perceive tapering of use an arduous, low priority, time-intensive task. These findings highlight factors that can help identify a subpopulation of older patients who may be easier to engage in the discontinuation process.
Cook
Joan M
JM
Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA. jc2676@columbia.edu
Biyanova
Tatyana
T
Thompson
Richard
R
Coyne
James C
JC
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D001569:Benzodiazepines