Find in Library

<strong>Objective</strong> To determine the efficacy and safety of trazodone in the treatment of benzodiazepine dependence. <strong>Methods</strong> Forty insomnia patients who met the Classification and Diagnostic Criteria of Mental Disorders in China Third Edition (CCMD-3) of dependence syndrome due to benzodiazepine were involved in the study. Patients were randomly assigned to trazodone group and placebo group for 3 months. The efficacy were assessed by Withdrawal Symptoms Checklist, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) and polysomnography (PSG). Adverse events were assessed by Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS). <strong>Results</strong> The Withdrawal Symptoms Checklist of trazodone group was significantly lower after 7 d treatment than that of placebo group (<em>P</em> = 0.000), and HAMA score of the trazodone group was also significantly lower after 15 d treatment than that of placebo group (<em>P</em> = 0.000). There were no difference in Withdrawal Symptoms Checklist and HAMA of placebo group before and after treatment. Withdrawal Symptoms Checklist and HAMA of the trazodone group were decreased after treatment (<em>P</em> = 0.000). In comparison with placebo group, sleep parameters of the trazodone, including total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency (SE), sleep latency (SL) and slow wave sleep (SWS) time presented improvement after 7 d treatment (<em>P</em> = 0.000, for all). After trazodone treatment, total sleep time, slow wave sleep time, sleep efficiency and sleep latency were improved (<em>P</em> = 0.000, for all). No obvious adverse reaction occurred. There were no significant differences in TESS scores between pre- and post-treatment in both groups (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05). <strong>Conclusion</strong> Trazodone is markedly effective and safe in the treatment for benzodiazepine dependence. <br />