title: Correlates of (inappropriate) benzodiazepine use: the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Results on determinants of benzodiazepine (BZD) use in general and inappropriate use were inconsistent and mostly univariate. The relative importance of sociodemographic, psychological and physical determinants has never been investigated in a comprehensive, multivariate model.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 429 BZD users and 2423 non-users from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA) in order to investigate sociodemographic, psychological and physical determinants of BZD use and inappropriate use by logistic and linear regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BZDs were used by a considerable proportion of the 2852 NESDA participants (15.0%). BZD use was independently associated with older age, singleness, unemployment, treatment in secondary care, higher medical consumption (more severe) anxiety, depression (OR [95% CI]=1.95 [1.29, 2.93]), comorbidity, insomnia, SSRI (OR [95% CI]=2.05 [1.55, 2.70]), TCA and other antidepressant (OR [95% CI]=2.44 [1.64, 3.62]) use. Overall, BZD use was rarely in accordance with all guidelines, mainly because most users (82.5%) exceeded the recommended duration of safe use. Inappropriate use was independently associated with older age (β=0.130) and chronic illnesses (β=0.120). Higher scores on agreeableness were associated with less inappropriate use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mentally or physically vulnerable subjects were most likely to use BZDs. The most vulnerable (i.e. the old and physically ill) BZD users were at highest risk of inappropriate BZD use. Without further evidence of the effectiveness of BZDs in long-term use, caution in initiating BZD prescriptions is recommended, particularly when patients are chronically ill and old, as those are most likely to display inappropriate use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. l.manthey@lumc.nl
authors.forename: Leonie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manthey
authors.forename: Tineke
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van Veen
authors.forename: Erik J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Giltay
authors.forename: José E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Stoop
authors.forename: Arie Knuistingh
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Neven
authors.forename: Brenda W J H
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Penninx
authors.forename: Frans G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Zitman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines