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Long-term benzodiazepine therapy does not result in brain abnormalities.
U E Busto1, K E Bremner, K Knight
1Biobehavioural Research Department, Addiction Research Foundation, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
|February 1, 2000
Summary
Long-term benzodiazepine use did not show brain abnormalities on CT scans. While some ventricular measures differed, sulci measurements were smaller in users, suggesting no significant brain atrophy from benzodiazepine therapy.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Pharmacology
- Neurology
Background:
- Conflicting results exist regarding long-term benzodiazepine use and brain abnormalities.
- Computed tomography (CT) is a common imaging technique for assessing brain structure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between long-term benzodiazepine use and brain abnormalities using CT scans.
- To compare brain atrophy measures between long-term benzodiazepine users and matched controls.
Main Methods:
- 20 long-term benzodiazepine users and 36 age/sex-matched controls underwent CT scans.
- Neuroradiologists blindly assessed CT scans for atrophy and measured various brain structures.
- Controls were screened for conditions that could cause brain atrophy.
Main Results:
- No overall difference in brain atrophy was found between benzodiazepine users and controls.
- Benzodiazepine users showed significantly larger V1 measures (ventricles).
- Controls exhibited significantly larger third and fourth largest sulci compared to benzodiazepine users.
Conclusions:
- Long-term benzodiazepine therapy does not appear to cause demonstrable brain abnormalities on CT scans.
- Observed differences in V1 and sulci measures require further investigation but do not indicate significant atrophy.