[Evaluation of the Lippstädter Benzo-Check as a Screening Tool for Side Effects of Long-term Use of Benzodiazepines and Z-drugs].

Objective: The Lippstädter Benzo-Check is intended to motivate those affected by unwanted effects of Benzodiazepines and Z-drugs. This study serves as the first check whether the Lippstädter Benzo-Check adequately recorded the symptoms of longterm-use before the withdrawal and, on the other hand, a depressive control group without taking the corresponding drugs unremarkable values ​​achieved.
Methods: 101 inpatient withdrawal patients with dependency on Benzodiazepines or Z-drugs and 154 day clinic patients without benzodiazepines or Z-drugs completed the Lippstädter Benzo-Check at the beginning of treatment. The total score and a subscore "dependency" were compared between the two groups.
Results: The total score ​​of the Lippstädter Benzo-check in the two collectives differ highly significantly, nevertheless around half oft he depressed patients are in the lowest of three warning areas - "the symptoms you have specified probably come from the long-term use oft he medication".The items "sleep disorder", "stealth", "loss of effectiveness", "fixation on medication" and "extension oft he indication" can be combined into a subscore ("dependency score"). This achieves a high selectivity for a cut-off value of<5 points, since 100% of the day clinic patients and only 10% of the withdrawal patients are below it.
Conclusions: The results of this first study using the Lippstädter Benzo-Check as a screening tool for undesirable consequences on benzodiazepines or Z-drugs are encouraging, despite methodological limitations and the need for further investigations.
Competing Interests: Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht.
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