Systematic review: Indiscriminate use of benzodiazepines against anxiety and depression in older adults, 2020-2023

Abstract

The present systematic review was carried out with the objective of deepening the indiscriminate use of benzodiazepines against depression and anxiety in older adults. Our research question was: What are the characteristics of older adults suffering from anxiety and depression, treated with benzodiazepines? This systematic review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The evidence was generated through the bibliographic review of research in databases of electronic journals such as Scopus, Dialnet, Pubmed, Continental Repository, and Google Academic. The key search terms were: benzodiazepines, the elderly, and anxiety. It was determined that both anxiety and depression are mental disorders caused by different physical, economic, social and environmental factors. Likewise, the consequences of the misuse of these drugs were identified, ranging from irreversible cognitive deterioration to dependence in older adults who consume benzodiazepines.