One-year follow-up of anxious patients treated with diazepam

A 1-year follow-up was conducted on patients who had participated in a 6-month diazepam maintenance study. Of 180 patients contacted, 131 patients (73%) responded. Observed relapse rate was 63%, and Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL) scores at follow-up were significantly higher for relapsed than for nonrelapsed patients. Two thirds of all relapsed patients sought some kind of medical, social, or psychiatric help, frequently including medication. Patients who were the most improved at the end of the diazepam maintenance trial consistently had the lowest HSCL scores at the time of follow-up. The implication of these findings for the management of chronic anxious patients is discussed.