Attitudes and Difficulties Associated with Benzodiazepine Discontinuation

Masahiro Takeshima, Yumi Aoki, Kenya Ie, Eiichi Katsumoto, Eichi Tsuru, Takashi Tsuboi, Ken Inada, Morito Kise, Koichiro Watanabe, Kazuo Mishima and Yoshikazu Takaesu ()
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Masahiro Takeshima: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo, Akita City 010-8543, Japan
Yumi Aoki: Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, St. Luke’s International University, 10-1 Akashi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0044, Japan
Kenya Ie: Department of General Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 1-30-37 Shukugawara, Kawasaki 214-8525, Japan
Eiichi Katsumoto: Katsumoto Mental Clinic, 10-13 Horikoshicho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka City 543-0056, Japan
Eichi Tsuru: Department of Neurosurgery, Munakata Suikokai General Hospital, 5-7-1 Himakino, Fukutsu-shi 811-3298, Japan
Takashi Tsuboi: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kyorin University School of Medicine, 6-20-2 Shinkawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8611, Japan
Ken Inada: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Kitasato University, Kitazato, Sagamihara shi 252-0329, Japan
Morito Kise: Centre for Family Medicine Development, Japanese Health and Welfare Co-Operative Federation, 3-25-1 Hyakunincho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan
Koichiro Watanabe: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kyorin University School of Medicine, 6-20-2 Shinkawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8611, Japan
Kazuo Mishima: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo, Akita City 010-8543, Japan
Yoshikazu Takaesu: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kyorin University School of Medicine, 6-20-2 Shinkawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8611, Japan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 23, 1-10

Abstract: Long-term use of benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BZDs) may depend on clinicians’ BZD discontinuation strategies. We aimed to explore differences in strategies and difficulties with BZD discontinuation between psychiatrists and non-psychiatrists and to identify factors related to difficulties with BZD discontinuation. Japanese physicians affiliated with the Japan Primary Care Association, All Japan Hospital Association, and Japanese Association of Neuro-Psychiatric Clinics were surveyed on the following items: age group, specialty (psychiatric or otherwise), preferred time to start BZD reduction after improvement in symptoms, methods used to discontinue, difficulties regarding BZD discontinuation, and reasons for the difficulties. We obtained 962 responses from physicians (390 from non-psychiatrists and 572 from psychiatrists), of which 94.0% reported difficulty discontinuing BZDs. Non-psychiatrists had more difficulty with BZD discontinuation strategies, while psychiatrists had more difficulty with symptom recurrence/relapse and withdrawal symptoms. Psychiatrists used more candidate strategies in BZD reduction than non-psychiatrists but initiated BZD discontinuation after symptom improvement. Logistic regression analysis showed that psychosocial therapy was associated with less difficulty in BZD discontinuation (odds ratio, 0.438; 95% confidence interval, 0.204–0.942; p = 0.035). Educating physicians about psychosocial therapy may alleviate physicians’ difficulty in discontinuing BZDs and reduce long-term BZD prescriptions.

Keywords: benzodiazepine; cognitive behavioral therapy; cross-sectional survey; discontinuation; psychiatrist; switching (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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