Treatment of Benzodiazepine Dependence
The new england journal of medicine Review Article Dan L. Longo, M.D., Editor Treatment of Benzodiazepine Dependence Michael Soyka, M.D. raditionally, various terms have been used to define substance From the Department of Psychiatry and use–related disorders. These include “addiction,” “misuse” (in the Diagnostic Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilian Univer 1 sity, Munich, and Medical Park Chiemsee and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition [DSM-IV] ), “harmful use” blick, Bernau — both in Germany; and T 2 3 Privatklinik Meiringen, Meiringen, Switzer (in the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision [ICD-10] ), and “dependence.” Long-term intake of a drug can induce tolerance of the drug’s effects (i.e., increased land. Address reprint requests to Dr. Soyka at Medical Park Chiemseeblick, Rasthaus amounts are needed to achieve intoxication, or the person experiences diminished strasse 25, 83233 Bernau, Germany, or at effects with continued use4) and physical dependence. Addiction is defined by com- m . soyka@ medicalpark . de. pulsive drug-seeking behavior or an intense desire to take a drug despite severe N Engl J Med 2017;376:1147-57. medical or social consequences. The DSM-IV and ICD-10 define misuse and harm- DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra1611832 ful use, respectively, on the basis of various somatic or psychological consequences Copyright © 2017 Massachusetts Medical Society. of substance use and define dependence on the basis of a cluster of somatic, psychological, and behavioral symptoms. According to the ICD-10, dependence is diagnosed if 3 or more of the following criteria were met in the previous year: a strong desire or compulsion to take the drug, difficulties in controlling drug use, withdrawal symptoms, evidence of tolerance, neglect of alternative pleasures or interests, and persistent drug use despite harmful consequences.
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