A controlled trial of diazepam withdrawal in chronically anxious outpatients

Abstract

Middle-aged male, chronically anxious outpatients (24) taking diazepam at a mean dose of 17 mg/day for a mean duration of 5 yr were assigned to maintenance (M), gradual withdrawal (GW) or abrupt withdrawal (AW) and followed weekly. No differences were seen in 2 self-report anxiety measures or in withdrawal symptoms between groups. Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale scores were slightly elevated (F = 2.34, P < 0.05) in the AW patients at a mean duration of 4 wk off diazepam. Withdrawal from chronic diazepam (10-30 mg/day) use produced no prominent withdrawal syndrome, but the suggestion of gradual anxiety recurrence indicates the need for longer-term follow-up studies to adequately assess maintenance efficacy.