[Benzodiazepine prescriptions in general practice. An analysis of the pattern of use in first time users]

The aim of the study was to describe first time users of benzodiazepines and to analyze the extent of benzodiazepine prescriptions the following four years. Benzodiazepine prescriptions were issued to 2262 persons in Svendborg during the period February-March 1990 (Study-base: Inhabitants in Svendborg in 1990: n = 40,868). The incidence of first time users was 10 per 1000 person-years. Ninety percent of first time users seemed to be psychologically healthy persons. The most frequent indications were anxiety (1/3), insomnia (1/3), or crisis (1/4). After four years 98% of first time users had ceased their use of benzodiazepines. Most of the patients ceased benzodiazepine medication on their own initiative. The doctor stopped the medication in 11% of the cases. The risk of a "repeat prescription syndrome" in continuation of the first prescription of a benzodiazepine seemed to be negligible among psychologically healthy persons.