title: Use of benzodiazepines in the treatment of anxiety.
abstract: We examined the role of benzodiazepines in the treatment of anxiety by both psychiatrists and primary care physicians. Over the past year, 112.8 million prescriptions were filled for a benzodiazepine: 55 percent were prescribed by a primary care physician, 16 percent by a psychiatrist, and the remaining 29 percent of prescriptions by another type of specialty physician. Benzodiazepine monotherapy is much more common in the treatment of anxiety by primary care physicians (42%) than psychiatrists (22%). Even when both benzodiazepine monotherapy and combination regimens are considered, total benzodiazepine use remains slightly greater in primary care than psychiatry (51% vs. 42%).
authors.affiliation: Quintiles Inc.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cascade
authors.forename: Amir H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Kalali