Family Practice Vol. 20, No. 4, 370-372
© Oxford University Press 2003
Mental health |
Predictors of relapse after discontinuation of long-term benzodiazepine use by minimal intervention: a 2-year follow-up study
a Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre St Radboud, Nijmegen,
b Department of Psychiatry and Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam,
c Department of Clinical Psychology and Personality, and
d Department of General Practice, University of Nijmegen and
e Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Correspondence to Dr RC Oude Voshaar, MD, University Medical Centre St Radboud; Department of Psychiatry (hp 333), PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; E-mail: r.oudevoshaar{at}psy.umcn.nl
Background. Long-term results of minimal intervention strategies to cut down benzodiazepine use are not available.
Objective. To evaluate the relapse rate over a two-year period and to search for predictors of relapse among patients who quit benzodiazepine use after receiving a discontinuation letter.
Methods. Baseline assessment and prospective monitoring of the medical records of 109 patients who quit long-term benzodiazepine use after a minimal intervention strategy in general practice.
Results. After 819 ± 100 days of follow-up, 53 (49%) patients had remained completely abstinent. Two independent predictors of relapse were identified by Cox regression analysis: use of more than 10 mg diazepam equivalent (RR = 2.4 [1.2 – 4.7]) and poor general health perception (RR = 0.98 [0.97 – 0.99]).
Conclusion. Short-term success rates after a minimal intervention were maintained well during long-term follow-up. High-dose users have the highest risk of relapse.
Keywords. Benzodiazepines, follow-up, general practice, minimal intervention.
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