THE EFFICACY OF COMPLAINTS MANAGEMENT-TRAINING IN FACILITATING BENZODIAZEPINE WITHDRAWAL

The study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of complaints management tr aining (CMT) compared to that of anxiety management training (AMT) in patients undergoing benzodiazepine withdrawal. CMT focused on techniqu es to alleviate reported withdrawal symptoms. Nineteen patients were r andomly allocated either to CMT or to AMT. Both groups received 9 week ly treatment sessions and were assessed every other week. Withdrawal w as designed to be gradual over the first 4 weeks. CMT proved more succ essful than AMT in terms of abstinence rate, reported number of severe withdrawal symptoms, depression and anxiety. At follow-up after 6 mon ths, there was no difference between groups in terms of abstinence rat e.