Cognitive impairment in long-term benzodiazepine users
Abstract
In view of the very extensive and often prolonged use of benzodiazepines in therapeutic practice, this study was designed to investigate whether or not cognitive ability is impaired in long-term benzodiazepine users, and to determine the nature and extent of any deficit. Fifty patients currently taking benzodiazepines for at least one year, thirty-four who had stopped taking benzodiazepines, and a matched control group of subjects who had never taken benzodiazepines or who had taken benzodiazepines in the past for less than one year were administered a battery of neuropsychological tests designed to measure a wide range of cognitive functions. It was found that patients taking high doses of benzodiazepines for long periods of time perform poorly on tasks involving visual-spatial ability and sustained attention. This is consistent with deficits in posterior cortical cognitive function.
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The most common indications for benzodiazepine use in the retrieved studies were insomnia, generalized anxiety disorder, and anxiety with or without panic attacks.
“The most common indications for benzodiazepine use in these studies were insomnia [30,36,40,55,59,67], generalized anxiety disorder [32,34,45,50,54,65,68], and anxiety with or without panic attacks [30,36,48,54,59,65]”
From Long-term neurological consequences following benzodiazepine exposure: A scoping review (2025) · cites this paper as [36]
The population of benzodiazepine patients in the retrieved studies is diagnostically heterogeneous.
“The population of benzodiazepine patients has been described as a “diagnostically heterogenous group,” which aligns with these results [30,36,40,55,59,65,67].”
From Long-term neurological consequences following benzodiazepine exposure: A scoping review (2025) · cites this paper as [36]
In Golombok 1988, those taking high doses of benzodiazepines over long periods performed worse on neuropsychological tests and had worse visual-spatial ability and attention spans compared to those not taking benzodiazepines.
“Those taking high doses of BZD over long periods of time performed worse on neuropsychological tests and had worse visual-spatial ability and attention spans compared to those not taking BZD”
From Long-term neurological consequences following benzodiazepine exposure: A scoping review (2025) · cites this paper as [36]
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“The most common indications for benzodiazepine use in these studies were insomnia [30,36,40,55,59,67], generalized anxiety disorder [32,34,45,50,54,65,68], and anxiety with or without panic attacks [30,36,48,54,59,65], although studies noted the inclusion of other patients with indications such as…”
- Authors
- Golombok, S., Moodley, P., & Lader, M.
- Corresponding author
- Golombok, Susan
- ORCID
- Golombok, Susan
- Venue
- Psychological Medicine
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 1988-05
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 365-374
- ISSN
- 0033-2917 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-8978
- OpenAlex
- W2071780117
- Cited by
- 167
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 7.12
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Geriatrics and Gerontology › Pharmaceutical Practices and Patient Outcomes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Historical and Modern Theater Studies
- Keywords
- benzodiazepines, long-term drug use, cognitive impairment, visuospatial ability, sustained attention, benzodiazepine withdrawal, neuropsychological deficits
- MeSH terms
- Antidepressive Agents, Benzodiazepines, Cognition Disorders, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Long-Term Care, Neuropsychological Tests, Substance Withdrawal Syndrome, Anti-Anxiety Agents, Substance-Related Disorders
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