Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38572545›Full record

ArticleEuropean psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists2024

Long-term benzodiazepine use and risk of labor market marginalization in Finland: A cohort study with 5-year follow-up.

Heidi Taipale, Antti Tanskanen, Terhi Kurko, Tero Taiminen, Hanna Särkilä, Jari Tiihonen, Reijo Sund, Solja Niemelä, Leena Saastamoinen, Jarmo Hietala

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Socioeconomic status, antidepressant use, and return to work after disability due to common mental disorders.European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists · 2025
    Article
  3. European Psychiatry: 2024 in review.European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Heidi TaipaleDepartment of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-3281-934X
Antti TanskanenDepartment of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-3795-3126
Terhi KurkoResearch Unit, The Social Insurance Institution, Helsinki, Finland.
Tero TaiminenDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Hanna SärkiläDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-5819-0586
Jari TiihonenDepartment of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-0400-6798
Reijo SundSchool of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-6268-8117
Solja NiemeläDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.ORCID 0000-0003-1130-9161
Leena SaastamoinenResearch Unit, The Social Insurance Institution, Helsinki, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-0887-0137
Jarmo HietalaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.

Funding

Social Insurance Institution of Finland
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBenzodiazepines and related drugs (BZDRs) are widely used in the treatment of anxiety and sleep disorders, but cognitive adverse effects have been reported in long-term use, and these may increase the risk of labor market marginalization (LMM). The aim of this study was to investigate whether the risk of LMM is associated with new long-term BZDR use compared to short-term use.

methodsThis register-based nationwide cohort study from Finland included 37,703 incident BZDR users aged 18-60 years who initiated BZDR use in 2006. During the first year of use, BZDR users were categorized as long-term users (≥180 days) versus short-term users based on PRE2DUP method. The main outcome was LMM, defined as receipt of disability pension, long-term sickness absence (>90 days), or long-term unemployment (>180 days). The risk of outcomes was analyzed with Cox regression models, adjusted with sociodemographic background, somatic and psychiatric morbidity, other types of medication and previous sickness absence.

resultsDuring 5 years of follow-up, long-term use (34.4%, N = 12,962) was associated with 27% (adjusted Hazard Ratio, aHR 1.27, 95% CI 1.23-1.31) increased risk of LMM compared with short-term use. Long-term use was associated with 42% (aHR 1.42, 95% CI 1.34-1.50) increased risk of disability pension and 26% increased risk of both long-term unemployment and long-term sickness absence.

conclusionsThese results indicate that long-term use of BZDRs is associated with increased risk of dropping out from labor market. This may be partly explained by cognitive adverse effects of prolonged BZDR use, which should be taken into account when prescribing BZDRs.

Indexed as

BenzodiazepinesAdolescentAdultCohort StudiesFemaleFinlandFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedRegistriesSick LeaveUnemploymentYoung AdultBenzodiazepinesbenzodiazepinesdisability pensionlabor market marginalizationlong-term usesickness absenceunemployment

Identifiers

PMID38572545
PMCPMC11059246

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.