Abstract
Objective: In patients with affective disorders, benzodiazepines (BZDs) are frequently administered at the onset, sometimes inappropriately. We sought to identify clinical variables associated with first BZD prescription in a large sample of patients with affective disorders. Methods: Four hundred sixty patients with mood or anxiety disorders attending different psychiatric services were assessed comparing those who received BZD as first treatment (BZD w/) and those who did not (BZD w/o). Results: More than one third (35.7%) of the total sample had received BZDs as first prescription. In relation to mood disorders, BZD w/ subjects more frequently (a) had not a psychiatrist as first therapist, (b) had anxious symptoms at onset, (c) had adjustment disorder as first diagnosis, (d) were treated as outpatients. In relation to specific diagnoses, (a) personal decision of treatment for major depressive disorder, (b) outpatient status for bipolar disorder and (c) longer duration of untreated illness for adjustment disorder were more frequently associated with first BZD prescription. For anxiety disorders, the presence of stressful life events and the diagnoses of panic disorder or specific phobias were more frequently observed in BZD w/ patients. Conclusion: Patients with affective disorders frequently received BZDs as first prescription with significant differences between and within mood and anxiety disorders.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e2695 |
| Journal | Human Psychopharmacology |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 1 2019 |
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Keywords
- affective disorders
- benzodiazepines
- first pharmacological prescription
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Pharmacology (medical)
Cite this
Exploring characteristics associated with first benzodiazepine prescription in patients with affective disorders and related diagnoses. / De Carlo, Vera; Grancini, Benedetta; Vismara, Matteo; Benatti, Beatrice; Arici, Chiara; Cremaschi, Laura; Cirnigliaro, Giovanna; Degoni, Luca; Oldani, Lucio; Palazzo, Carlotta; Glick, Ira D.; Viganò, Caterina; Dell'Osso, Bernardo.
In: Human Psychopharmacology, Vol. 34, No. 3, e2695, 01.01.2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring characteristics associated with first benzodiazepine prescription in patients with affective disorders and related diagnoses
AU - De Carlo, Vera
AU - Grancini, Benedetta
AU - Vismara, Matteo
AU - Benatti, Beatrice
AU - Arici, Chiara
AU - Cremaschi, Laura
AU - Cirnigliaro, Giovanna
AU - Degoni, Luca
AU - Oldani, Lucio
AU - Palazzo, Carlotta
AU - Glick, Ira D.
AU - Viganò, Caterina
AU - Dell'Osso, Bernardo
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - Objective: In patients with affective disorders, benzodiazepines (BZDs) are frequently administered at the onset, sometimes inappropriately. We sought to identify clinical variables associated with first BZD prescription in a large sample of patients with affective disorders. Methods: Four hundred sixty patients with mood or anxiety disorders attending different psychiatric services were assessed comparing those who received BZD as first treatment (BZD w/) and those who did not (BZD w/o). Results: More than one third (35.7%) of the total sample had received BZDs as first prescription. In relation to mood disorders, BZD w/ subjects more frequently (a) had not a psychiatrist as first therapist, (b) had anxious symptoms at onset, (c) had adjustment disorder as first diagnosis, (d) were treated as outpatients. In relation to specific diagnoses, (a) personal decision of treatment for major depressive disorder, (b) outpatient status for bipolar disorder and (c) longer duration of untreated illness for adjustment disorder were more frequently associated with first BZD prescription. For anxiety disorders, the presence of stressful life events and the diagnoses of panic disorder or specific phobias were more frequently observed in BZD w/ patients. Conclusion: Patients with affective disorders frequently received BZDs as first prescription with significant differences between and within mood and anxiety disorders.
AB - Objective: In patients with affective disorders, benzodiazepines (BZDs) are frequently administered at the onset, sometimes inappropriately. We sought to identify clinical variables associated with first BZD prescription in a large sample of patients with affective disorders. Methods: Four hundred sixty patients with mood or anxiety disorders attending different psychiatric services were assessed comparing those who received BZD as first treatment (BZD w/) and those who did not (BZD w/o). Results: More than one third (35.7%) of the total sample had received BZDs as first prescription. In relation to mood disorders, BZD w/ subjects more frequently (a) had not a psychiatrist as first therapist, (b) had anxious symptoms at onset, (c) had adjustment disorder as first diagnosis, (d) were treated as outpatients. In relation to specific diagnoses, (a) personal decision of treatment for major depressive disorder, (b) outpatient status for bipolar disorder and (c) longer duration of untreated illness for adjustment disorder were more frequently associated with first BZD prescription. For anxiety disorders, the presence of stressful life events and the diagnoses of panic disorder or specific phobias were more frequently observed in BZD w/ patients. Conclusion: Patients with affective disorders frequently received BZDs as first prescription with significant differences between and within mood and anxiety disorders.
KW - affective disorders
KW - benzodiazepines
KW - first pharmacological prescription
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85065225552&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85065225552&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/hup.2695
DO - 10.1002/hup.2695
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85065225552
VL - 34
JO - Human Psychopharmacology
JF - Human Psychopharmacology
SN - 0885-6222
IS - 3
M1 - e2695
ER -