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An evaluation of persisting cognitive effects after withdrawal from long-term benzodiazepine use

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 May 2005

MELINDA J. BARKER ,
KENNETH M. GREENWOOD ,
MARTIN JACKSON  and
SIMON F. CROWE
MELINDA J. BARKER
Affiliation:
School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia
KENNETH M. GREENWOOD
Affiliation:
School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia
MARTIN JACKSON
Affiliation:
School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia
SIMON F. CROWE
Affiliation:
School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia
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Abstract

Twenty participants with self-reported long-term benzodiazepine use (mean 108 months) who had previously withdrawn from medication (mean 42 months) were administered a battery of neuropsychological tests. Each long-term user was case matched for age, sex, and education to two control participants who reported never taking benzodiazepines (those with and those without anxiety). The results indicated that long-term benzodiazepine use may lead to impairments in the areas of verbal memory, motor control/performance, and nonverbal memory but not visuospatial skills and attention/concentration. The length of abstinence (> 6 months) indicates that these impairments persist well beyond cessation of benzodiazepine use. However, observed impairments in the area of nonverbal memory were not solely attributable to benzodiazepine use and may be influenced by the elevated anxiety levels present in both the case and the anxious control group. (JINS, 2005, 11, 281–289.)

Keywords

BenzodiazepinesLong-term effectsNeuropsychological assessmentCognitive ability
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 11 , Issue 3 , May 2005 , pp. 281 - 289
Copyright
© 2005 The International Neuropsychological Society

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