Health Care Utilization and Costs in Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder Initiating Add-on Therapy with Benzodiazepines

Objectives

To examine patterns of health care utilization and costs in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) who begin treatment with benzodiazepine anxiolytics as add-on therapy.

Study Design

In a large US health insurance database, we identified all patients with evidence of GAD (International Classification of Diseases, 9^th Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis code 300.02) who received ≥90 days of therapy with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or venlafaxine between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2007. Among these patients, we selected those who initiated a course of benzodiazepine add-on therapy. Designating the date of initial receipt of a benzodiazepine as the “index date,” we examined health care utilization and costs over the 6-month period preceding this date (“pre-index”) and the 12-month period following it (“follow-up”).

Results

A total of 2131 patients met all study inclusion criteria. Patients averaged 32 days of therapy with benzodiazepines (median [interquartile range] = 20 [10-30]); 13% of patients received >90 days of therapy, however. In general, levels of health care utilization during the first 6 months of follow-up were higher than those during the pre-index period; between months 7 and 12 of follow-up, however, they were somewhat lower than pre-index levels. Mean (SD) total health care costs were $5148 ($10,658), $6325 ($15,741), and $5373 ($11,230) during pre-index, months 1-6 of follow-up, and months 7-12 of follow-up, respectively.

Conclusions

Levels of health care utilization and costs increase following initiation of add-on therapy with a benzodiazepine in patients with GAD receiving selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or venlafaxine. Although duration of add-on therapy is typically brief, some patients are treated for >90 days, raising potential concerns about risks of dependency and sedation.