What is the typical approach to benzodiazepines in anxiety treatment?

• A. First-line long-term treatment with no dependence risk.
• B. Ineffective and rarely used.
• C. Used only for OCD.
• D. Useful for short-term relief or during initiation, but risk of dependence, sedation, and cognitive impairment; generally avoided as long-term therapy.

Answer: (D)

Benzodiazepines are valued for their rapid relief of anxiety, but they are not suited to long-term use. The best approach is to use them for short-term relief or as a bridge at the start of treatment, while initiating longer-term options like SSRIs or CBT. The key advantage is their quick anxiolytic effect, which can help patients feel better quickly, but this comes with notable risks: dependence and withdrawal if used long-term, as well as sedation and cognitive impairment that can affect daily functioning. Because of these dangers, guidelines favor keeping benzodiazepines limited in duration and tapering off as other treatments take effect. In practice, they’re used cautiously for acute episodes or short courses, not as ongoing therapy.