title: Patterns of benzodiazepine use in a Canadian population sample.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to identify clinical and demographic factors that may be associated with benzodiazepine treatment, to describe the reported reasons for use of these medications and to appraise the pattern of use in relation to standard guidelines in a general population sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Telephone survey methods were employed to select a sample of 3345 people between the ages of 18 and 64. A computer assisted telephone interview, including the Mini Neuropsychiatric Diagnostic Interview (MINI), was administered. Estimates were weighted for design features and population demographics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of benzodiazepines use was 3.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.6 to 4.1%). There was a higher frequency of medication use in women than men, among respondents who were widowed, separated or divorced, and those with lower levels of education. In relation to MINI diagnosis, diagnoses of Panic Disorder and Major Depression increased the probability of taking benzodiazepines. The reported main reason for use was "Sleep disorders" (68.9%), "Anxiety" (35.8%), "Depression" (27.8%) and "Pain management" (21.2%). More than 80% of subjects were taking benzodiazepines for more than one year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When compared to previous estimates, the lower frequency of benzodiazepines use suggests that there has been improvement in their evidence-based use at a population level. However our results once more confirm the difficulty stopping the use of these medications once they have been started. Further randomized control studies may help clinicians in having a better practical approach to rational benzodiazepine use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Public Health, Section of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. eleonora.esposito@univr.it
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barbui
authors.forename: Scott B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Patten
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000416:Alberta; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001569:Benzodiazepines