In-patient withdrawal from long-term benzodiazepine use

Twenty-one patients completed an intensive in-patient and out-patient group-based programme, to achieve withdrawal from long-term benzodiazepine dependence. By 6-month follow-up (post-withdrawal), eight patients (38%) had achieved a 'good' outcome. Generally, patients demonstrated moderate levels of psychiatric morbidity and depression in the pre-withdrawal phase; a diagnosis of a depressive disorder being associated with either an 'intermediate' or 'poor' outcome in comparison to patients receiving a diagnosis of anxiety disorder, who showed a predominantly 'good' outcome. Two patients committed suicide some time after withdrawal. Additionally, older patients fared less well than their younger counterparts. We conclude that maintenance benzodiazepine prescription, rather than withdrawal, may be the preferred treatment for some dependent patients. Furthermore, more data are required regarding the association, and causality, between depression and benzodiazepine withdrawal in long-term users.