The effects of long-term benzodiazepine treatment and graded withdrawal on psychometric performance
Abstract
Twelve patients were assessed prior to and during 4 weeks' graded withdrawal from long-term benzodiazepine treatment. A control group of ten healthy drug-free individuals were assessed over the same period. Psychometric measures included Four Choice Reaction Time--Decision (FCRT-D), Four Choice Reaction Time--Movement (FCRT-M), Sensory Threshold Detection (STD) and Key Tapping Rate (KTR). Patients anxiety level was monitored using the Hamilton Rating Scale (HAM) and a Visual Analogue Self-Report Measure (VASR). There was no evidence of psychometric practice effects and no significant changes in patients anxiety ratings. Prior to withdrawal the patient group showed significantly impaired performance compared to the control group on FCRT-D and STD, tasks primarily involving visual sensory information processing, but there were no differences between the two groups on FCRT-M and KTR, tasks primarily involving motor speed. During withdrawal the patient group showed significant improvements compared to the control group on FCRT-D and STD.
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Sakol and Power (1988) observed improvements in attention, vigilance, and speed of information processing in 12 long-term benzodiazepine users after graded withdrawal.
“Sakol and Power (1988) studied 12 long-term benzodiazepine users (mean use 9 years) before and after graded withdrawal and observed improvements in tasks assessing attention, vigilance, and speed of information processing.”
From Persistence of cognitive effects after withdrawal from long-term benzodiazepine use: a meta-analysis (2004) · cites this paper as Sakol & Power, 1988
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- Authors
- Sakol, M., & Power, K.
- Affiliations
- Southern General Hospital (GB)
- University of Stirling (GB)
- Venue
- Psychopharmacology
- Published
- 1988-05
- Volume
- 95
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 135-8
- ISSN
- 0033-3158 (ISSN-L)
- 1432-2072
- OpenAlex
- W1993845974
- Cited by
- 17
- References
- 17
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 1.06
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
- Keywords
- benzodiazepine withdrawal, psychometric performance, reaction time, motor speed, anxiety, practice effects
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Anxiety, Benzodiazepines, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Psychometrics, Sensory Thresholds, Substance Withdrawal Syndrome
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