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Clinical Trial
. 2003 Jun:182:498-504.
doi: 10.1192/bjp.182.6.498.

Tapering off long-term benzodiazepine use with or without group cognitive-behavioural therapy: three-condition, randomised controlled trial

R C Oude Voshaar  1 , W J M J Gorgels, A J J Mol, A J L M van Balkom, E H van de Lisdonk, M H M Breteler, H J M van den Hoogen, F G Zitman
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Tapering off long-term benzodiazepine use with or without group cognitive-behavioural therapy: three-condition, randomised controlled trial

R C Oude Voshaar et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2003 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Benzodiazepine withdrawal programmes have never been experimentally compared with a nonintervention control condition.

Aims: To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of tapering off long-term benzodiazepine use in general practice, and to evaluate the value of additional group cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT).

Method: A 3-month randomised, 3-month controlled trial was conducted in which 180 people attempting to discontinue long-term benzodiazepine use were assigned to tapering off plus group CBT, tapering off alone or usual care.

Results: Tapering off led to a significantly higher proportion of successful discontinuations than usual care (62% nu. 21%). Adding group CBT did not increase the success rate (58% v. 62%). Neither successful discontinuation nor intervention type affected psychological functioning. Both tapering strategies showed good feasibilityin general practice.

Conclusions: Tapering off is a feasible and effective way of discontinuing long-term benzodiazepine use in general practice. The addition of group CBT is of limited value.

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