02107nas a2200265   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653002100054653001800075653001700093653001900110100002800129700001900157700002500176700003200201700003300233700003200266700002600298245009600324300001000420490000700430520137600437022001401813020001401827       2021                            d  c11/202110aAnxiety disorder10aPsychotherapy10aPrimary care10aBenzodiazepine1 aAntonieta Also Fontanet1 aBelchin Kostov1 aJaume Benavent Àreu1 aMontserrat Pinyol Martínez1 aJosep Miquel Sotoca Momblona1 aAntoni Benabarre Hernández1 aAntoni Sisó-Almirall00aPilot psychotherapy program for the deprescription of benzodiazepines for anxiety disorders  a71-770 v283 aIntroduction: The objective was to implement a pre-experimental pilot psychotherapy program for benzodiazepine deprescription in patients with anxiety disorders in primary care. 

Methods: Before-after clinical trial without a control group performed in two urban health centers. Patients aged 18-60 years with a diagnosis of anxiety disorder on benzodiazepine treatment were included. The program consisted of seven sessions of individual psychotherapy, and an individualized deprescription schedule. The Goldberg test and SF-12 questionnaire were administered in the first, third and final sessions. 

Results: Of the 123 patients included, 107 (87%) finished the study, of whom 93 (86.9%) were women, with a mean age of 44.7 years. Most had generalized anxiety disorder diagnosed in the past year. After completing the program, benzodiazepines were withdrawn in 54 out of 86 participants (62.8%); in 14 (16.3%) the dose was decreased, in 6 (7.0%) the dose was maintained and in 12 (13.9%) the dose was increased. There were significant improvements in the mental dimension of the SF-12 and the Goldberg test score. 

Conclusions: The intervention was useful in deprescibing benzodiazepines, reducing anxiety and improving the quality of life. Introducing such a program in primary care could allow a better approach to anxiety disorders, avoiding polypharmacy.  a1134-7937  a2174-0437