Effectively detect dependence on benzodiazepines among community-dwelling seniors by asking only two questions

Abstract

Consumption of benzodiazepines (BZDs) is common among seniors. When used over a long period of time, BZDs can induce dependence. The present study aimed to equip nurses with valid screening questions for detecting BZD dependence among seniors, applicable to clinical practice and based on the DSM-IV-TR version. A random sample of 707 BZD users aged 65 years and over was screened for BZD dependence using the DSM-IV-TR criteria for substance dependence. To predict a diagnosis of BZDs dependence, sensitivity and specificity were computed for each pair of items. Results showed that an affirmative answer to 'Have you try to stop taking this medication?' and 'Over the past 12 months, have you noticed any decrease in the effect of this medication?' led to a sensitivity of 97.1% and a specificity of 94.9% to detect BZD dependence. Asking these two simple questions can be easily integrated into clinical practice and have considerable potential for identifying cases of BZD dependence. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing.