Long-Term Use of Benzodiazepines and Related Drugs in Persons With Major Depressive Disorder

18/11/2025

Brain Behav. 2025 Nov;15(11):e71085. doi: 10.1002/brb3.71085.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Benzodiazepines and related drugs (BZDRs) may be prescribed to treat anxiety and insomnia in persons with depression. Although BZDRs are recommended for short-term use only, their use may be prolonged. Despite research on the use of BZDRs in depression, to our knowledge, long-term use and its predictors have not been previously studied. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of long-term BZDR use in persons with depression and to identify sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with prolonged use.

METHODS: Data were extracted from Finnish nationwide registers. The study focused on persons with depression aged 16-65 years who initiated BZDR use between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2018. Persons with a previous diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, or dementia, or those who did not have at least 180 days of follow-up, were excluded from the study. Sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with long-term (≥180 days) versus shorter use were compared with logistic regression. The final study sample included 11,303 BZDR initiators.

RESULTS: A total of 849 (7.5%, CI 95% 7.0-8.0) BZDR initiators became long-term users. The mean age of long-term users was 39.8 years (SD 13.3), and more than half of them were females (58.9%). Factors associated with long-term BZDR use included age over 45 years (45-54: aOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.22-1.99, ≥55: 1.72, 1.32-2.25 compared to ≤24 years), male gender (1.49, 1.28-1.73), substance use disorder (excl. alcohol) (1.79, 1.27-2.29), use of opioid (1.75, 1.38-2.21) or quetiapine (1.65, 1.18-2.27), ≥3 antidepressants used in the previous year (1.63, 1.22-2.19), socioeconomic status other than employed, the use of antidepressants with hypnotic effects (1.25, 1.06-1.47) and anxiety disorder (1.16, 1.00-1.35).

CONCLUSIONS: This Finnish population-based cohort study identified sociodemographic and clinical factors that should be considered in the initiation and monitoring of BZDR treatment among persons with depression.

PMID:41251100 | DOI:10.1002/brb3.71085

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