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Cognitive impairment in long-term benzodiazepine users.
S Golombok1, P Moodley, M Lader
1Institute of Psychiatry, London.
Psychological Medicine
|May 1, 1988
Summary
Long-term benzodiazepine use, particularly at high doses, can impair cognitive functions like visual-spatial ability and sustained attention. These deficits suggest potential impacts on posterior cortical function in chronic users.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Benzodiazepines are widely prescribed for various therapeutic purposes.
- Prolonged use raises concerns about potential long-term cognitive effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cognitive impairment in long-term benzodiazepine users.
- To determine the nature and extent of any cognitive deficits.
Main Methods:
- A neuropsychological test battery was administered to assess cognitive functions.
- Study groups included current long-term users, past users, and never-users.
Main Results:
- Patients on high-dose, long-term benzodiazepines showed poorer performance on visual-spatial and sustained attention tasks.
- Findings suggest deficits in posterior cortical cognitive function.
Conclusions:
- Long-term, high-dose benzodiazepine use is associated with specific cognitive impairments.
- These deficits may relate to compromised posterior cortical functioning.