Benzodiazepine overuse in an internal medicine outpatient department: a prospective study
- Author:
Sirijit Suttajit
;
Manit Srisurapanont
;
Peerasak Lerttrakarnnon
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
benzodiazepine overuse, indication, duration, dependence
- From:ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry
2007;8(2):106-110
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective: This study aims to assess benzodiazepine overuse, in particular indications, prolonged
use, and dependence for usage in out-patients treated at the internal medicine clinic of
Chiang Mai University Hospital. Methods: The indications of benzodiazepine usage were
examined by using the Thai Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in patients who were
started on benzodiazepines. The duration of benzodiazepine usage was classified into: i) less
than 1 month; ii) 1-6 months; and iii) longer than 6 months, and benzodiazepine dependence
was assessed by using the Severity of Dependence Scale. Results: Of 40 out-patients started
on benzodiazepines, only one of them (2.5%) had clinically significant anxiety. Of 58 outpatients
receiving benzodiazepines, 42 patients (72.4%) had used benzodiazepines longer than
6 months. In addition, 8 patients (13.8%) were dependent on benzodiazepines. Conclusions:
Benzodiazepine overuse is common in physically ill out-patients, even in the university
hospital. Almost half of the surveyed patients appear to have prolonged benzodiazepine use;
however, only a few patients are dependent on benzodiazepines.
