Benzodiazepine use for anxiety disorders is associated with increased long-term risk of mood and substance use disorders: A large-scale retrospective cohort study

Abstract Background: Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are widely prescribed for anxiety disorders. However, the long-term implications on mental health remain uncertain, especially the potential association between chronic BZD use and subsequent diagnosis of mood and substance use disorders (SUDs). Method: We conducted a 5-year retrospective cohort study by analyzing the TriNetX database, a real-time electronic medical record network. The study population was defined as patients aged 18–65 with anxiety disorders (ICD-10-CM: F40-F48). We employed propensity score matching to pair a BZD-exposed cohort