EVALUATION OF BENZODIAZEPINE DEPENDANCE AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH COAGNITIVE FUNCTIONING IN LONG TERM USERS AT RAMA MEDICAL COLLEGE AND RESEARCH CENTRE, KANPUR

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background:

Long-term benzodiazepine (BZD) use has been associated with cognitive decline, but the relationship between dependence severity and specific cognitive domains remains underexplored. This study aimed to assess the extent of benzodiazepine dependence and its impact on cognitive functioning in chronic users.

Materials and Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 long-term BZD users (≥6 months) at Rama Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kanpur. Participants were assessed using the Benzodiazepine Dependence Self-Report Questionnaire (BENDEP-SRQ), which covers four domains (problematic use, preoccupation, lack of compliance, and withdrawal symptoms), and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) for cognitive evaluation. Sociodemographic details were also collected. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 29.2, with Pearson correlation used to determine associations.

Results

A majority of participants were male (60%), aged 36–39 years (49.2%), from low socioeconomic backgrounds (61.7%), and had only primary education (50.8%). The severity of benzodiazepine dependence was significantly associated with cognitive impairment. A strong negative correlation was found between dependence severity and MoCA total score (r =

-0.887, p < 0.001), with specific domains such as attention (r = -0.885) and delayed recall (r =

-0.833) being most affected. The moderate dependence group showed the highest frequency of high scores in BENDEP domains, particularly in problematic use and preoccupation.

Conclusion

Benzodiazepine dependence is strongly associated with cognitive decline, especially in attention, memory, and overall cognitive functioning. Sociodemographic vulnerabilities—such as male gender, low education, and low income—further compound this risk. Routine cognitive screening and timely intervention in long-term BZD users are essential to mitigate the risk of irreversible cognitive impairment.