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Tapering off long-term benzodiazepine use with or without group cognitive-behavioural therapy: three-condition,
R C Oude Voshaar1, W J M J Gorgels, A J J Mol
1University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. r.oudevoshaar@psy.umcn.nl
Background:
Benzodiazepine withdrawal programmes have never been experimentally compared with a nonintervention control condition.
Aims:
To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of tapering off long-term benzodiazepine use in general practice, and to evaluate the value of additional group cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT).
Method:
A 3-month randomised, 3-month controlled trial was conducted in which 180 people attempting to discontinue long-term benzodiazepine use were assigned to tapering off plus group CBT, tapering off alone or usual care.
Results:
Tapering off led to a significantly higher proportion of successful discontinuations than usual care (62% nu. 21%). Adding group CBT did not increase the success rate (58% v. 62%). Neither successful discontinuation nor intervention type affected psychological functioning. Both tapering strategies showed good feasibilityin general practice.
Conclusions:
Tapering off is a feasible and effective way of discontinuing long-term benzodiazepine use in general practice. The addition of group CBT is of limited value.