Risk factors in the use of benzodiazepines.

A case-control study was carried out on 107 benzodiazepine users and 214 controls not treated with anxiolytic-hypnotic agents, chosen randomly and matched two to one for each case by age, sex and family doctor. The users presented a higher degree of psychic disorder than the controls, with depression, interpersonal sensitivity, and the total number of symptoms being the elements distinguishing the two groups. We have found two factors that put the population at large at risk for using benzodiazepines; the family doctor's diagnosis of a mental disorder in the clinical history and the daily use of drugs other than benzodiazepines explained the risk independently. The presence of chronic disorders, especially cardiological and musculoskeletal disorders, also showed a significant risk, but were only explained by their close association with one of the first two factors. It is postulated that general practitioners, who are the principal prescribers of drugs, are causing over-medication in the population.