Psychological distress and adaptational problems associated with discontinuation of benzodiazepines

This study compared subjects who had received standard tapered withdrawal of benzodiazepine (BZD) (group 1) with a group with comparable diagnosis still receiving BZD (group 2) and a control group of comparable diagnosis not yet receiving treatment (group 3). Sixty subjects aged 21-65 years with a diagnosis of nonpsychotic anxiety or insomnia were included. The assessment of psychological distress and quality of life was timed to coincide with the maximum immediate effect of BZD discontinuation, as calculated according to drug half-life. Subjects diagnosed with insomnia reported lower distress in all three groups. The pattern of distress experienced by group 1 was closer to group 3 than to group 2, indicating the potential importance of re-emergence of anxiety. High neuroticism, lower education level, and lower quality of life were associated with higher levels of distress during withdrawal.