title: Long-term benzodiazepine use in patients with major depressive disorder in China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There have been no data about long-term benzodiazepine (BZD) use and its correlates in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) in China. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of long-term BZD use (more than three months) and its demographic and clinical correlates in Chinese patients with MDD.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1,192 patients with MDD were examined in 10 mental health centers in China. Patients' socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and prescriptions for psychotropic drugs were recorded using a standardized form.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A large portion of patients (36.2%) received long-term BZD treatment. Univariate analyses revealed that long-term BZD users were older, poorer, and had more impaired occupational functioning than patients not taking BZDs. Long-term BZD users had fewer psychotic symptoms and took less antipsychotic drugs. In multivariate analyses, long-term BZD use was independently associated with older age and more severe impaired occupational functioning; long-term BZD users were less likely to receive antipsychotic medications and traditional antidepressants (tricyclic antidepressants, tetracyclic antidepressant, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term BZD use was common in patients with MDD in China. A host of demographic and clinical factors were independently associated with long-term BZD use.
authors.forename: You-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yu-Tao
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Yun-Ai
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Amy M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kilbourne
authors.forename: Gabor S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Ungvari
authors.forename: Helen F K
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Cui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Gao-Hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Pei-Shen
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Xie-He
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Li-Zhong
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Jian-Guo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Xian-Sheng
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qi-Yi
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.forename: Ke-Qing
authors.initials: KQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tian-Mei
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Si
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002681:China; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001569:Benzodiazepines