ARAÚJO, I. R. M.; OLIVEIRA FILHO, F. C.; ALVES, R. M.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/3296180495457865; http://lattes.cnpq.br/4135240550049163; http://lattes.cnpq.br/7567021691467711; ARAÚJO, Italo Rhaniery Meireles.; OLIVEIRA FILHO, Francisco das Chagas.; ALVES, Rosivan Maia.
Résumé:
The indiscriminate prescription of psychotropic results in the use of these drugs by 10%, per
year, in the Brazilian adult population, Benzodiazepines are the main representatives, and these
are also among the most prescribed drugs in the world. The use of benzodiazepines has been
growing in the Brazilian population improperly from its inception and ranks, today, as one of the
most commonly used drugs in the treatment of insomnia and anxiety, featuring a public health
problem. This study aims to identify the characteristics of the population group that makes use of
Benzodiazepines and what factors predispose to chronic use. We opted for the integrative review
method of literature. The survey was conducted in SciELO databases, PubMed and LILACS
using the descriptors benzodiazepines AND (chronic OR dependence) in the last 10 years (2004-
2014). The results, after application of the criteria for exclusion and inclusion, were abstracted
from critics and thorough reading of 08 articles, followed by organization in summary tables of
data. The evidence was synthesized and identified the female population, inactive, low
purchasing power and who have already made use of some substance abuse as the most
susceptible to chronic use of benzodiazepines, mainly prescribed as anxiolytics, with the main
general practitioners prescribe. The studies used a good level of evidence according to evidence-
based practice and had representative samples. However, due to the limitation of the studies to
access the most heterogeneous populations of different social classes and lack of diagnostic
standardization of drug dependence, it is necessary a greater number of controlled studies and
standardized to better define the most vulnerable population group.