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Benzodiazepines: more "behavioural" addiction than dependence
Carlos de las Cuevas1, Emilio Sanz, Juan de la Fuente
1Department of Psychiatry, University of La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain. ccuevas@ull.es
Psychopharmacology
|April 2, 2003
Summary
Benzodiazepine dependence affects 47% of long-term users, particularly women. Key risk factors include higher doses, longer use, and concurrent antidepressant use, suggesting psychological dependence is primary.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Psychiatry
- General Practice
Background:
- Benzodiazepines are widely prescribed for various conditions.
- Long-term use can lead to dependence, impacting patient health.
- Understanding prevalence and risk factors is crucial for clinical management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of benzodiazepine dependence.
- To identify characteristics and risk factors associated with dependence.
- To investigate the role of dose, duration, and co-medications.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study of 1048 primary care patients using benzodiazepines for ≥1 month.
- Utilized the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) for screening.
- Employed multivariate logistic regression to identify risk factors.
Main Results:
- 47% of patients developed benzodiazepine dependence.
- Dependence was more common in middle-aged women, with lower education, and unemployed status.
- Higher doses, shorter half-life benzodiazepines, longer duration of use, and concomitant antidepressant use were significant risk factors.
Conclusions:
- Benzodiazepine dependence is highly prevalent in long-term users.
- Psychological dependence appears more significant than pharmacological tolerance.
- Risk factors like dose, duration, and antidepressant co-prescription require clinical attention.