Use of benzodiazpines in the treatment of major depressive disorder in an outpatient mental health center

Results There is use of BZD in a 76% of the sample, with a predominancy of the female gender (72.4% vs 27.6%), a global average age of 56.55 ± 12.4 years. In relation to personal psychiatric background it can be observed in 47.4% the absence of these, followed by 39.5% in which there is presence of previous depressive episodes. There is a predominancy in the absence of toxic abuse (97.4%) and the absence of previous hospitalisations (81%) It can be observed the following distribution by frequencies in the use of BZD: diazepam (25%), dipotassic clorazepate (23,7%), clonazepam (14.5%) and alprazolam (10.5%). The average dose was 10.2 mg/d for diazepam, 22.9 mg/d for dipotasic clorazepate, 2.7 mg/d for clonazepam and 1 mg/d for alprazolam. Conclusions The use of BZD in the DMM is large in our sample but the potential benefits of adding a BZD to an antidepressant must be balanced judiciously against possible harms including development of dependence and accident proneness, on the one hand, and against continued suffering following no response and drop out, on the other.