Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Enhance Benzodiazepine Deprescribing

Pilot of a Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention to Enhance Benzodiazepine Deprescribing in Older Adults

The goal of this clinical trial is to conduct a single-arm pilot trial of a brief cognitive-behavioral therapy-enhanced benzodiazepine deprescribing intervention in 20 older adults (aged ≥55 years) prescribed chronic benzodiazepines by their primary care clinicians.

Nearly 10% of Americans aged 55 years and older fill benzodiazepine (BZD) prescriptions annually. Chronic use of BZD place older adults at an increased risk of falls, cognitive impairment, functional decline, preventable hospitalizations, and mortality.

Research study investigators will conduct a single-arm pilot trial of the intervention in 20 adults aged 55 and older currently taking chronic BZDs. The aim is to evaluate feasibility/acceptability of the refined deprescribing intervention using mixed methods. At intervention end, research study investigators will conduct surveys and qualitative interviews with participants to obtain feedback on participant experience and intervention components (e.g., acceptability, usefulness, relevance, satisfaction) as well as views on future format options. Using these data and the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework, research study investigators will further refine the intervention in preparation for larger scale testing and implementation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Prescribed chronic benzodiazepines by their primary care clinicians at a Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) Primary Care Clinic.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Primary Care Practitioner (PCP) opt out
• Severe anxiety or depression symptoms