Assessing the clinical utility of the severity dependence scale for benzodiazepine use disorder
South African Journal of Psychiatry
Field | Value | |
Title | Assessing the clinical utility of the severity dependence scale for benzodiazepine use disorder | |
Creator | Lowton, Karishma Chiba, Gaveeta | |
Description | Background: Benzodiazepines are often used as a part of mental health pharmacological management; however, often when prescribed for extended periods, they increase the risk of benzodiazepine use disorder (BUD). Clinical interviews are at the centre of diagnosing this disorder. However, in addition to clinical assessment a simple, validated questionnaire conducted by any healthcare professional may aid in screening for BUD and referral for further management.Aim: To compare the accuracy of the severity dependence scale (SDS) as a screening tool for BUD against the standard clinical interviews using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, edition 5, (DSM 5) checklist amongst benzodiazepine users with primary psychiatric disorders.Setting: Outpatient psychiatric clinic in South Rand Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, once informed consent was attained, looking at demographic and clinical profiles of benzodiazepine users. Clinical interviews were conducted in 81 patients who completed the SDS. In comparing the results of the SDS and clinical interview outcomes, chi-square tests were used to determine an association between categorical variables. A receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated in determining the cut-off score in the SDS with the highest sensitivity and specificity.Results: This study indicated that a cutoff score of greater than or equal to six of the SDS showed 86% sensitivity and 90.3% specificity compared to a diagnosis of BUD made with clinical interview. The only categorical variables of marginal significance (p~0.06) in comparison to a BUD diagnosis were with benzodiazepine type (oxazepam) and longer duration of use (greater than 24 months).Conclusion: This study identified the SDS as a useful screening tool for BUD with a high sensitivity and specificity compared to interview outcomes. Statistically, correlates were identified between duration and type of benzodiazepine prescribed and BUD suggesting emphasis on these factors when prescribing benzodiazepines. | |
Publisher | AOSIS | |
Date | 2021-07-28 | |
Identifier | 10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v27i0.1571 | |
Source | South African Journal of Psychiatry; Vol 27 (2021); 6 pages 2078-6786 1608-9685 | |
Language | eng | |
Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1571/2225
https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1571/2226
https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1571/2227
https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1571/2228
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