[Patients' attitude to long-term use of benzodiazepines. A questionnaire study]

The object of this investigation was to illustrate patients understanding of the background for commencing and continuing or discontinuing, respectively, benzodiadiazepine medication with emphasis on attitudes, norms and values on which this medication is based. The quantitative research interview method was selected as the method employed here. Twenty-one patients participated. Ten of these continued medication. Nine patients had originally discontinued medication but had begun again for various reasons. Two patients had discontinued medication completely. Patients who employed benzodiazepines daily had only few trepidations about consumption of drugs while patients who only employed medication occasionally had a series of trepidations. Nevertheless, a considerable tendency to return to benzodiazepines under conditions of stress was observed. The justification for intake of benzodiazepines was frequently altered during the course of time. Considerable "medicalization" of non-medical problems was observed. The problems for which the patient was prescribed medication with benzodiazepines were frequently bio-psycho-social-extential problems. The majority of patients were, however, aware of this "medicalization". Benzodiazepines were not employed as euphoric agents.