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

M J Barker; Ken Greenwood; M Jackson; S F Crowe

doi:10.1017/S1355617705050332

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

Journal article

Open access

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

M J Barker, Ken Greenwood, M Jackson and S F Crowe

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, Vol.11(3), pp.281-289

2005

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617705050332

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Abstract

benzodiazepines

long-term effects

neuropsychological assessment

cognitive ability

Twenty participants with self-reported long-term benzodiazepine use (mean 108 months) who had previously withdrawn from medication (mean 42 months) were administered a battery of neuropsychological tests.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. Copyright © 2005 INS.

Details

Title: An evaluation of persisting cognitive effects after withdrawal from long-term benzodiazepine use
Authors: M J Barker (Author) - La Trobe University
Ken Greenwood (Author) - La Trobe University
M Jackson (Author) - La Trobe University
S F Crowe (Author) - La Trobe University
Publication details: Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, Vol.11(3), pp.281-289
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Date published: 2005
DOI: 10.1017/S1355617705050332
ISSN: 1355-6177
Organisation Unit: School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99451012502621
Output Type: Journal article

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