Assessment of Benzodiazepine (BZD) Use Among Nursing Home Residents by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Nursing Questionnaires, and Examining Additional Mental Health Problems of BZD Users

This study aimed at evaluating the extent of benzodiazepine (BZD) consumption among nursing home residents and examining additional mental health problems. Urine samples were collected in nursing homes in a border region between Austria and Germany and analyzed for BZD using a liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric method (LC–MS/MS). In addition, a questionnaire was applied to the residents including the ICD-10 symptom rating scale; nursing staff filled out a further questionnaire on residents’ consumption of addictive drugs. Of 301 urine samples collected in 33 nursing homes, 103 (34.2%) were BZD positive. BZD users showed significantly higher values for depression and anxiety. Nursing staff reported consumption of addictive drugs in 29 (37.2% of BZD positives) with almost entirely BZD use. In nearly 4% of BZD users, nursing staff indicated drug abuse/dependence. BZD use appears to be rather common in nursing homes and nurses apparently do not recognize the addictive potential of BZD sufficiently. Interventions should aim at a reduction of BZD prescriptions by sensitizing primary care physicians and nursing staff.