TY - JOUR
T1 - Tapering off long-term benzodiazepine use with or without group cognitive-behavioural therapy
T2 - Three-condition, randomised controlled trial
AU - Oude Voshaar, Richard C.
AU - Gorgels, Wim J.M.J.
AU - Mol, Audrey J.J.
AU - Van Balkom, Anton J.L.M.
AU - Van De Lisdonk, Eloy H.
AU - Breteler, Marinus H.M.
AU - Van Den Hoogen, Henk J.M.
AU - Zitman, Frans G.
PY - 2003/6/1
Y1 - 2003/6/1
N2 - Background: Benzodiazepine withdrawal programmes have never been experimentally compared with a non-intervention control condition. Aims: To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of tapering off long-term benzodiazepine use in general practice, and to evaluate the value of additional group cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). Method: A 3-month randomised, controlled trial was conducted in which 180 people attempting to discontinue long-term benzodiazepine use were assigned to tapering off plus group CBT, tapering off alone or usual care. Results: Tapering off led to a significantly higher proportion of successful discontinuations than usual care (62% v. 21%). Adding group CBT did not increase the success rate (58% v. 62%). Neither successful discontinuation nor intervention type affected psychological functioning. Both tapering strategies showed good feasibility in general practice. Conclusions: Tapering off is a feasible and effective way of discontinuing long-term benzodiazepine use in general practice. The addition of group CBT is of limited value. Declaration of interest: None. The study was funded by the Dutch Health Care Insurance Council.
AB - Background: Benzodiazepine withdrawal programmes have never been experimentally compared with a non-intervention control condition. Aims: To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of tapering off long-term benzodiazepine use in general practice, and to evaluate the value of additional group cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). Method: A 3-month randomised, controlled trial was conducted in which 180 people attempting to discontinue long-term benzodiazepine use were assigned to tapering off plus group CBT, tapering off alone or usual care. Results: Tapering off led to a significantly higher proportion of successful discontinuations than usual care (62% v. 21%). Adding group CBT did not increase the success rate (58% v. 62%). Neither successful discontinuation nor intervention type affected psychological functioning. Both tapering strategies showed good feasibility in general practice. Conclusions: Tapering off is a feasible and effective way of discontinuing long-term benzodiazepine use in general practice. The addition of group CBT is of limited value. Declaration of interest: None. The study was funded by the Dutch Health Care Insurance Council.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0038356535&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.182.6.498
DO - https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.182.6.498
M3 - Article
C2 - 12777340
SN - 0007-1250
VL - 182
SP - 498
EP - 504
JO - British journal of psychiatry
JF - British journal of psychiatry
IS - JUNE
ER -