Sante Ment Que. 2003;28(2):121-48.

[Evaluation of a program to help discontinuation of benzodiazepines].

Sante mentale au Quebec

[Article in French]
Kieron P O'Connor, André Marchand, Lucie Brousseau, Nicole Mainguy, Pierre Landry, Pierre Savard, Julie Turcotte, Cathy Léveillé, Sonia Boivin, Denise Pitre, Sophie Robillard, Donald Bouthillier

PMID: 15470549

Abstract

The efficacy of a new cognitive-behavioral group program to help discontinuation of benzodiazepines (PASSE) was evaluated by comparison to a group receiving only social support. Both programs lasted 20 weeks commencing with a preparatory period of one month and then tapering continually during 16 subsequent weeks until discontinuation. Forty-eight participants (24 in each condition) with a diagnosis of anxiety disorder took part in the study. These two active conditions were compared with a separate group of 41 people receiving standard tapering with physician counselling only. The results post-treatment supported the hypothesis that those receiving either of the two active treatments succeeded better in discontinuing benzodiazepines than those receiving the standard treatment. Among those completing the two active programs there was no difference in outcome between the social support and the cognitive behavioral (PASSE) group. However, when the rate of dropout was considered, the cognitive-behavioral group proved significantly superior than the social support group. The results suggest that a cognitive-behavioral program can help people wishing to discontinue benzodiazepines to psychologically tolerate the immediate effects of discontinuation.

Publication Types

• English Abstract
• Journal Article