A NEW SCALE FOR THE EVALUATION OF BENZODIAZEPINE WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS - SESSB - A PILOT-STUDY

In spite of recognition of a specific syndrome after abrupt discontinu ation of benzodiazepine therapy, albeit acknowledging its clinical and epidemiologic relevance, few operational criteria and instruments hav e been developed for objectively assessing the signs and symptoms of t he benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome. We describe here a new scale fo r rating benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms, the SESSB (Scala di Etero valutazione dei Sintomi da Sospensione di Benzodiazepine, or Scale for Evaluation of Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Symptoms). This 27-item scale , constructed according to the symptom pattern reported in clinical pr actice, provides clinicians with a simple and accurate tool for assess ing and monitoring symptoms occurring after discontinuation of benzodi azepines. Preliminary data concerning the internal consistency, validi ty, and applicability of the SESSB are presented. We believe the SESSB is a useful tool for analyzing the clinical and epidemiologic feature s and risk factors of the benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome, as well as for evaluating different approaches to prevention and therapeutic m anagement of the syndrome.