Psychosocial characteristics of benzodiazepine addicts compared to not addicted benzodiazepine users

ObjectiveAlthough the addictive potential of benzodiazepine drugs has been known for a long time, new cases of benzodiazepine addictions keep emerging in clinical practice. The etiology of benzodiazepine addiction seems to be multifactorial. The objective of this study was to investigate and measure psychological and situational factors differentiating benzodiazepine addicts from not addicted users.MethodsA psychological profile and situational factors of patients with the diagnosis of benzodiazepine addiction and a carefully matched control group of not addicted former benzodiazepine users were defined and investigated.ResultsThe investigated benzodiazepine addicts differed significantly from the control group in particular psychological dimensions, such as higher neuroticism and introversion, prevalence of emotional rather than task based coping mechanisms. There were also significant correlations between the addiction and situational factors such as BZD — treatment circumstances and adverse life events previous to the treatment.ConclusionsThe results show psychological and situational factors which differentiate benzodiazepine addicts from not addicted benzodiazepine users. This data suggest that benzodiazepine addiction might be associated with higher neuroticism, introversion and less effective coping mechanisms as well as with previous accumulation of adverse life events and/or inadequate BZD treatment. The psychological and situational factors mentioned above might be considered as potential risk factors for benzodiazepine addiction.

► Psychological and situational factors differentiate benzodiazepine addicts from not addicted benzodiazepine users.
► Benzodiazepine addiction is associated with higher neuroticism, introversion and less effective coping mechanisms
► The previous accumulation of adverse life events and/or inadequate BZD treatment are also risk factors of benzodiazepine addiction.