Benzodiazepine prescribing in a community in crisis

A study of the rate of benzodiazepine prescribing was made in one primary care clinic in Israel during the period of the Gulf War. The number of benzodiazepine prescriptions rose sharply at the start of the war and declined before the cease-fire. This rise in prescribing was both absolute and relative to total prescriptions dispensed. The war appeared to represent a transient emotional crisis in the community. There was no evidence of dependence on anxiolytics following the termination of hostilities. There were some signs that the population adapted to the situation, needing fewer tranquilizers before the war ended.