Administrator Altostrata Posted April 17, 2018 Administrator Share Posted April 17, 2018 Br J Psychiatry. 2006 Sep;189:213-20. Strategies for discontinuing long-term benzodiazepine use: meta-analysis. Voshaar RC1, Couvée JE, van Balkom AJ, Mulder PG, Zitman FG. Abstract and free full text at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16946355 BACKGROUND: The prevalence of benzodiazepine consumption in European countries remains at 2-3% of the general population despite the well-documented disadvantages of long-term use. AIMS: To review systematically the success rates of different benzodiazepine discontinuation strategies. METHOD: Meta-analysis of comparable intervention studies. RESULTS: Twenty-nine articles met inclusion criteria. Two groups of interventions were identified; minimal intervention (e.g. giving simple advice in the form of a letter or meeting to a large group of people; n=3), and systematic discontinuation (defined as treatment programmes led by a physician or psychologist; n=26). Both were found to be significantly more effective than treatment as usual: minimal interventions (pooled OR=2.8, 95% CI 1.6-5.1); systematic discontinuation alone (one study, OR=6.1, 95% CI 2.0-18.6). Augmentation of systematic discontinuation with imipramine (two studies, OR=3.1, 95% CI 1.1-9.4) or group cognitive-behavioural therapy for patients with insomnia (two studies, OR=5.5, 95% CI 2.3-14.2) was superior to systematic discontinuation alone. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence was found for the efficacy of stepped care (minimal intervention followed by systematic discontinuation alone) in discontinuing long-term benzodiazepine use. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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