Psychological distress and adaptational problems associated with discontinuation of benzodiazepines

This study compared subjects who had received standard tapered withdrawal o f benzodiazepine (BZD) (group 1) with a group with comparable diagnosis sti ll receiving BZD (group 2) and a control group of comparable diagnosis not yet receiving treatment (group 3). Sixty subjects aged 21-65 years with a d iagnosis of nonpsychotic anxiety or insomnia were included. The assessment of psychological distress and quality of life was timed to coincide with th e maximum immediate effect of BZD discontinuation, as calculated according to drug half-life. Subjects diagnosed with insomnia reported lower distress in all three groups. The pattern of distress experienced by group 1 was cl oser to group 3 than to group 2, indicating the potential importance of re- emergence of anxiety. High neuroticism, lower education level, and lower qu ality of life were associated with higher levels of distress during withdra wal. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.