Author:
LINDEN M.,BÄR T.,GEISELMANN B.
Abstract
Background. Long-term low-dosage dependence on benzodiazepines
is traditionally explained by
withdrawal symptoms. Previous research has not given much attention
to reports that suggest that
many patients oppose stopping benzodiazepines long before withdrawal symptoms
have developed.
This study investigates the scope of and factors associated with this pre-withdrawal
treatment
insistence.Methods. Patients receiving long-term low-dosage benzodiazepines
in primary care were asked to
take a drug-holiday of at least 3 weeks. Sociodemographic, medication,
morbidity and attitudinal
variables were assessed in addition to the GPs' perceptions of their
patients.Results. Two-thirds of the patients rejected the drug-holiday
proposal. Patients who refused a drug-holiday were less educated and
were using a higher percentage of long-acting benzodiazepines than
patients who accepted the drug-holiday proposal. Those who refused were
seen by their GPs as
being more complaining, harder to satisfy and less co-operative.Conclusions. These results provide evidence for drug-seeking
or craving behaviour of patients who
receive low-dosage benzodiazepine prescriptions. A major problem in benzodiazepine
withdrawal
occurs before the withdrawal programme has even begun. These data show
that benzodiazepine
low-dosage dependence should be considered a real form of dependence.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Subject
Psychiatry and Mental health,Applied Psychology
Cited by
37 articles.
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