- Title
- Exploration of the preliminary effectiveness and acceptability of a self-help digital intervention to support benzodiazepine cessation and improve mental health and wellbeing : a one-group pilot trial
- Creator
- Klein, Britt; Oldenhof, Erin; Nguyen, Huy; Schattner, Peter; Shandley, Kerrie
- Date
- 2023
- Type
- Text; Journal article
- Identifier
- http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/198882
- Identifier
- vital:19112
- Identifier
-
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbct.2023.09.003
- Identifier
- ISSN:2589-9791 (ISSN)
- Abstract
- Introduction: Benzodiazepines (BDZs) are often inappropriately prescribed to manage anxiety and insomnia for longer-term use, despite guidelines recommending short-term use (i.e., <4 weeks). A range of harms can occur rapidly with regular use, and dependence can make stopping BDZs challenging. Evidence shows that a combination of BDZ tapering and psychological support are effective interventions, yet are not widely accessible. Methods: This was a one-group pilot trial of a 6-week fully automated self-help BDZ digital intervention (‘BDZ digital health’), providing guidance on how to safely taper BDZs as well as psychological support. The trial was undertaken with Australian adults considering a reduction and/or withdrawal from their BDZ (N = 43). Participants were assessed at pre-intervention (Week 0), during intervention (Week 3), post-intervention (Week 6), and at a 3- and 6-month follow-up (Week 18 and 30 respectively). Results: Reductions in BDZ use and self-reported dependency were observed over the course of the intervention. Significant symptom reductions in anxiety, insomnia, depression, psychological distress, and emotional dysregulation, as well as improvements in mental wellbeing and quality of life were observed when looking across all timepoints. However, the specific assessment timepoint changes for depression and psychological distress did not reach significance from the pre- to post-intervention timepoint. The intervention acceptability ratings were in the moderately high to high range. Discussion: The preliminary results of the pilot trial suggest that BDZ digital health is an acceptable and promising self-help digital intervention to assist adults reducing and withdrawing from their BDZs, and to improve their mental health and wellbeing. Trial registration: ACTRN12617000574347 (24/04/2017). © 2023 Association Française de Therapie Comportementale et Cognitive
- Publisher
- Elsevier Masson s.r.l.
- Relation
- Journal of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy Vol. 33, no. 3 (2023), p. 179-193
- Rights
- All metadata describing materials held in, or linked to, the repository is freely available under a CC0 licence
- Rights
- Copyright © 2023 Association Française de Therapie Comportementale et Cognitive
- Subject
- 5203 Clinical and health psychology; Benzodiazepine; Dependence; Mental health and wellbeing; Self-help digital intervention; Withdrawal
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