Benzodiazepine use among patients with schizophrenia in Taiwan: a nationwide population-based survey

This study aimed to describe the pattern of benzodiazepine use in a representative sample of patients with schizophrenia in Taiwan.

Data from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan were used to examine the prevalence and indices of benzodiazepine use in 2005. Demographic and clinical characteristics associated with long-term benzodiazepine use (more than 180 days of cumulated prescription in one year) were further explored by multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Among the 3,690 patients with schizophrenia, the one-year prevalence rate of benzodiazepine use was 79.2% (N=2,923). Among those who used benzodiazepines, 1,840 (62.9%) were long-term users. Use of benzodiazepines was associated with having a comorbid psychiatric disorder, use of concomitant psychotropic agents, and antipsychotic polypharmacy. Among benzodiazepine users, older age, longer duration of illness, and use of concomitant psychotropic agents were associated with significantly higher odds of being a long-term user.

The study showed that benzodiazepine use was highly prevalent among patients with schizophrenia in Taiwan and that a substantial proportion of users (62.9%) were long-term users. Because long-term use was associated with longer duration of illness and with use of concomitant psychotropic medications, long-term users may be at higher risk of neurocognitive side effects caused by benzodiazepines and interactions with other psychotropic medications. Therefore, this group should be closely monitored for drug-drug interactions and the benefits and risks of benzodiazepine use.