Department of Psychiatry, Spanish University of Distance Education (UNED), Vitoria, Spain
Research Article
Use of Benzodiazepines in Patients with Bipolar Disorder
Author(s): Marta Zubia Martin*, Susana Alberich Mesa, Maria Purificación López Peña, Iñaki Zorrilla Martínez, Juan Pablo Chart Pascual and Ana Maria González Pinto
Introduction: Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are widely used in patients with bipolar
disorder. The aim of this study was to determine chronic use of Benzodiazepines
(BZDs) in patients with a first bipolar episode and the association between its use
and cognition.
Methods: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted in a cohort of 63
patients under 40 years old with a first manic or mixed episode. The percentage
of patients taking Benzodiazepines (BZDs) in the baseline sample was evaluated at
6 months and for the next 3 years. Cognitive functioning was compared between
patients with chronic Benzodiazepine (BDZ) use and those who did not use them.
A linear regression model adjusted for potential confounding variables such as age
and education level were used.
Results: Just over half the sample (55.. View More»
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