Does cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders assist the discontinuation of benzodiazepines among patients with anxiety disorders? A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Issue 4 (25th February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Takeshima, Masahiro; Otsubo, Tempei; Funada, Daisuke; Murakami, Maki; Usami, Takashi; Maeda, Yoshihiro; Yamamoto, Taisuke; Matsumoto, Toshihiko; Shimane, Takuya; Aoki, Yumi; Otowa, Takeshi; Tani, Masayuki; Yamanaka, Gaku; Sakai, Yojiro; Murao, Tomohiko; Inada, Ken; Yamada, Hiroki; Kikuchi, Toshiaki; Sasaki, Tsukasa; Watanabe, Norio; Mishima, Kazuo; Takaesu, Yoshikazu
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences. Volume 75:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: 119
• Page End: 127
• Publication Date: 2021-02-25
• Subjects: anxiety disorder -- anxiolytics -- benzodiazepines -- cognitive behavioral therapy -- meta‐analysis; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1111/pcn.13195
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1323-1316

Abstract

Abstract : Long‐term use of benzodiazepines (BZD) is not recommended for the treatment of anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment option for discontinuation of BZD in patients with anxiety disorders. This systematic review and meta‐analysis sought to clarify whether CBT is effective for discontinuing BZD anxiolytics in patients with anxiety disorders. This study was preregistered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42019125263). A literature search of major electronic databases was conducted in December 2018. Three randomized controlled trials were included in this review, and meta‐analyses were performed. The proportion of discontinuing BZD anxiolytics was significantly higher in the CBT plus gradual tapering group than in the gradual tapering alone group, both in the short term (3 months after allocation; number needed to treat: 3.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.1 to 7.1; risk ratio: 1.96, 95%CI: 1.29 to 2.98, P = 0.002, three studies) and long term (6 to 12 months after allocation; number needed to treat: 2.8, 95%CI: 1.9 to 5.3; risk ratio: 2.16, 95%CI: 1.41 to 3.32, P = 0.0004, three studies). CBT may be effective for discontinuing BZD anxiolytics, both in the short term and in the long term after the allocation. Further studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to draw definitive conclusions regarding the efficacy and safety of CBT for discontinuing BZD anxiolytics in patients with anxiety disorders.