The long-term treatment with benzodiazepines: suggestions for further research

While the effects of short-term benzodiazepine treatment have been extensively studied in several well-designed, controlled, clinical trials, further information is needed on the value and risks of anxiolytic drugs when administered over months to maintain chronic patients. Clinical trials on the effects of long-term benzodiazepine treatment present several methodological problems. The aim of this paper is to discuss these problems in relation to samples, drugs and dosage, duration, measures and experimental design.