Long-Term Treatment with Diazepam

Abstract

In a prospective study over 6 months involving 54 psychiatric outpatients with neurotic disorders, the habits of diazepam or placebo intake and the attitudes towards psychotherapy and the medication were studied. The patients, divided into two groups, received in a double-blind setting either diazepam or placebo. They were also seen for psychotherapy every 14 days. The patients were advised to use the medication according to their personal needs but not to take more than 6 tablets of 6 mg diazepam (or placebo) daily. All patients showed controlled use of the drug. No dependency was observed. The patients stopped taking the medication gradually in each group, but faster in the placebo group. 18% of the placebo group and 52% of the diazepam group were 'high' consumers (more than 200 tablets within a period of at least 20 weeks). The intake of the drug was mainly dictated by the symptoms. A second important factor modifying the intake habits was the fear of possible adverse effects of the medication. At the end of the treatment period the attitude towards psychotherapy was more favorable than that towards psychopharmacotherapy irrespective of the drug taken. Long-term intake of diazepam did not lead to a decrease in the motivation of working through the existing problems. In contrast, the diazepam group felt less than the placebo group that medication could be a long-term solution for personal or social problems.