Table of Contents

Clinical pharmacology of benzodiazepines. Patterns of benzodiazepine use. Physiological dependence on benzodiazepines. Risk factors for clinically important physiological benzodiazepine dependence. Treatment of benzodiazepine discontinuance symptoms. Mechanism of benzodiazepine dependence and tolerance. Benzodiazepine toxicity. Abuse liability of benzodiazepines. Conclusions. Prescribing guidelines. References. Additional readings.

Reviews

"This timely APA task force report on benzodiazepines should be 'must reading' for every prescribing clinician. Rarely does the reader find in one place a clear guide in using a class of psychotropic agents. In addition to their dealing with the myth of excessive benzodiazepine abuse, the authors have described the relative risk-benefit ratios, the 'epidemiology' of use, and given us succinct guidelines for the appropriate use of benzodiazepines in clinical practice."-- "David J. Kupfer, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh"