TY - JOUR
KW - Anxiety disorder
KW - Psychotherapy
KW - Primary care
KW - Benzodiazepine
AU - Antonieta Also Fontanet
AU - Belchin Kostov
AU - Jaume Benavent Àreu
AU - Montserrat Pinyol Martínez
AU - Josep Miquel Sotoca Momblona
AU - Antoni Benabarre Hernández
AU - Antoni Sisó-Almirall
AB - Introduction: 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 After completing the program, benzodiazepines were withdrawn in 54 out of 86 participants (62.8%); in 14 (16.3%) the dose was decreased, in 6 (7.0%) the dose was maintained and in 12 (13.9%) the dose was increased.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.
IS - 1
M3 - Journal article
N2 - Introduction: 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.
PY - 2021
SN - 2174-0437/1134-7937
SP - 71
EP - 77
T2 - Ansiedad y Estrés
TI - Pilot psychotherapy program for the deprescription of benzodiazepines for anxiety disorders
VL - 28
ER -