Review: Minimal interventions (e.g., a letter) reduce long-term benzodiazepine use in primary care

摘要

Review scopeIncluded studies assessed minimal interventions (i.e., a letter, self-help information, or short consultation with a general practitioner that addressed concerns about long-term use of hypnotics, particularly potential side effects, and included practical advice on how-to gradually and safely reduce or stop BZDs) in patients > 18 years of age who had been taking BZDs for > 3 months. Primary outcomes were reduction and cessation of BZD use.MEDLINE, EMBASE/Excerpta Medica, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (all to Aug 2010), and reference lists of identified studies and reviews were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). 3 RCTs (n = 615, mean age > 60 y, > 60% women) involving 5 comparisons with control (continued usual dose) met inclusion criteria. Minimal interventions assessed were a letter (2 comparisons), letter plus follow-up (1 comparison), and letter plus consultation (2 comparisons). 2 trials had adequate randomization methods, and all had objective outcome measures (prescription records).