Nonpharmacological Alternatives to Benzodiazepine Drugs for the Treatment of Anxiety in Outpatient Populations: A Literature Review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of mindfulness as a non-chemical anxiolytic treatment compared to benzodiazepine drugs.
Results Summary
The study found that mindfulness, along with meditation and yoga, can be safely recommended for patients with anxiety, with growing evidence supporting its efficacy.
Population
Patients with anxiety, mood, and sleep disorders.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
benzodiazepine drugs | neutral | anxiety, mood, and sleep disorders | users | - | have side effects, drug interactions, and the potential to create tolerance and dependence | #1 |
GABA-enhancing dietary supplements | neutral | - | - | - | have similar and unique risks | #2 |
mindfulness, meditation, and yoga | neutral | anxiety | patients | - | can be safely recommended | #3 |
Overuse of benzodiazepine drugs to treat anxiety, mood, and sleep disorders is a growing problem in clinical practice. GABAergic medications (benzodiazepine drugs in particular) have side effects, drug interactions, and the potential to create tolerance and dependence in users. GABA-enhancing dietary supplements have similar and unique risks. Natural, non-chemical, anxiolytic treatments exist and can be safely recommended to patients. Three such treatments have been the focus of study in the past 20 years: mindfulness, meditation, and yoga. Growing evidence exists that these treatments can be safely recommended to patients with anxiety. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 54(8), 35-42.].