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Does cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders assist the discontinuation of benzodiazepines among patients with anxiety disorders? A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Author(s) -
Takeshima Masahiro,
Otsubo Tempei,
Funada Daisuke,
Murakami Maki,
Usami Takashi,
Maeda Yoshihiro,
Yamamoto Taisuke,
Matsumoto Toshihiko,
Shimane Takuya,
Aoki Yumi,
Otowa Takeshi,
Tani Masayuki,
Yamanaka Gaku,
Sakai Yojiro,
Murao Tomohiko,
Inada Ken,
Yamada Hiroki,
Kikuchi Toshiaki,
Sasaki Tsukasa,
Watanabe Norio,
Mishima Kazuo,
Takaesu Yoshikazu
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/pcn.13195
Subject(s) - anxiety , discontinuation , meta analysis , cognitive behavioral therapy , clinical psychology , psychology , cognition , cognitive therapy , psychiatry , phobic disorder , medicine , psychotherapist
Long‐term use of benzodiazepines (BZD) is not recommended for the treatment of anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment option for discontinuation of BZD in patients with anxiety disorders. This systematic review and meta‐analysis sought to clarify whether CBT is effective for discontinuing BZD anxiolytics in patients with anxiety disorders. This study was preregistered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42019125263). A literature search of major electronic databases was conducted in December 2018. Three randomized controlled trials were included in this review, and meta‐analyses were performed. The proportion of discontinuing BZD anxiolytics was significantly higher in the CBT plus gradual tapering group than in the gradual tapering alone group, both in the short term (3 months after allocation; number needed to treat: 3.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.1 to 7.1; risk ratio: 1.96, 95%CI: 1.29 to 2.98, P = 0.002, three studies) and long term (6 to 12 months after allocation; number needed to treat: 2.8, 95%CI: 1.9 to 5.3; risk ratio: 2.16, 95%CI: 1.41 to 3.32, P = 0.0004, three studies). CBT may be effective for discontinuing BZD anxiolytics, both in the short term and in the long term after the allocation. Further studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to draw definitive conclusions regarding the efficacy and safety of CBT for discontinuing BZD anxiolytics in patients with anxiety disorders.