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Impact of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Via Mail for Cessation of Benzodiazepine Use: A Series of Case Reports

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2013

Jannette M. Parr ,
David J. Kavanagh ,
Ross McD. Young ,
Barbara Stubbs  and
Nick Bradizza
Jannette M. Parr
Affiliation:
The University of Queensland, School of Medicine, Discipline of Psychiatry, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
David J. Kavanagh*
Affiliation:
Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation and School of Psychology & Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Ross McD. Young
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Barbara Stubbs
Affiliation:
Queensland Health, Cairns Health Service District, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Nick Bradizza
Affiliation:
Queensland Health, Cairns Health Service District, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
*
Address for correspondence: Professor David Kavanagh, Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia. Email: david.kavanagh@qut.edu.au
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Abstract

Benzodiazepines are widely prescribed to manage sleep disorders, anxiety and muscular tension. While providing short-term relief, continued use induces tolerance and withdrawal, and in older users, increases the risk of falls. However, long-term prescription remains common, and effective interventions are not widely available. This study developed a self-managed cognitive behaviour therapy package for cessation of benzodiazepine use delivered to participants via mail (M-CBT) and trialled its effectiveness as an adjunct to a general practitioner (GP)-managed dose reduction schedule. In the pilot trial, participants were randomly assigned to GP management with immediate or delayed M-CBT. Significant recruitment and engagement problems were experienced, and only three participants were allocated to each condition. After immediate M-CBT, two participants ceased use, while none receiving delayed treatment reduced daily intake by more than 50%. Across the sample, doses at 12 months remained significantly lower than baseline, and qualitative feedback from participants was positive. While M-CBT may have promise, improved engagement of GPs and participants is needed for this approach to substantially impact on community-wide benzodiazepine use.

Keywords

benzodiazepinescorrespondencecognitive-behaviour therapygeneral practitionermailed interventionself-managed
Type
Standard Papers
Information
Behaviour Change , Volume 30 , Issue 2 , June 2013 , pp. 74 - 83
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2013

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