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Benzodiazepines: risks and benefits. A reconsideration

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 22:03 authored by David S Baldwin, Katherine Aitchison, Alan Bateson, H Valerie Curran, Simon Davies, Brian Leonard, David J Nutt, Dai Stephens, Sue Wilson
Over the last decade there have been further developments in our knowledge of the risks and benefits of benzodiazepines, and of the risks and benefits of alternatives to benzodiazepines. Representatives drawn from the Psychopharmacology Special Interest Group of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the British Association for Psychopharmacology together examined these developments, and have provided this joint statement with recommendations for clinical practice. The working group was mindful of widespread concerns about benzodiazepines and related anxiolytic and hypnotic drugs. The group believes that whenever benzodiazepines are prescribed, the potential for dependence or other harmful effects must be considered. However, the group also believes that the risks of dependence associated with long-term use should be balanced against the benefits that in many cases follow from the short or intermittent use of benzodiazepines and the risk of the underlying conditions for which treatment is being provided.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

FOCUS

ISSN

1541-4094

Publisher

American Psychiatric Publishing

Issue

2

Volume

12

Page range

229-234

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2015-08-06

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    University of Sussex (Publications)

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