Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40722348›Full record

ArticleBrain sciences2025

Symptom-Triggered Alcohol Detoxification Compared to Fixed-Dose Regimen of Benzodiazepines: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

Laurent Becciolini, Fabienne Wehrli, Jens Kronschnabel, Carolina Wiesendanger, Norbert Scherbaum, Patrik Roser

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Brain sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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

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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

6 authors.

Laurent BeccioliniCenter for Addictive Disorders, Department of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland.
Fabienne WehrliInstitute of Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland.
Jens KronschnabelDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric Services Aargau, 5210 Windisch, Switzerland.
Carolina WiesendangerDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric Services Aargau, 5210 Windisch, Switzerland.
Norbert ScherbaumDepartment of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, and Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LVR University Hospital Essen, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-1759-6990
Patrik RoserDepartment of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, and Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LVR University Hospital Essen, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-0633-125X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlcohol withdrawal syndrome is a common clinical challenge that may lead to significant complications if not properly managed. Symptom-triggered therapy (STT) represents a promising alternative to fixed-dose regimens (FDRs) providing benzodiazepine prescriptions based on objectively quantified withdrawal symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of STT using the Hamburg Alcohol Withdrawal Scale (HAES) compared to FDRs in the management of inpatient alcohol detoxification.

methodsIn a retrospective case-control study, alcohol detoxification treatment in STT was compared with FDRs. During a twelve-month observation period, a total of 123 patients in the STT group were recruited and compared with 123 controls in the FDR group (matched according to sex, age, and current amount of alcohol consumption) treated in the same hospital before the implementation of STT. The study outcomes included the total benzodiazepine dosage, duration of acute detoxification phase, length of inpatient stay, and occurrence of complications such as epileptic seizures and delirium tremens.

resultsSTT showed a significantly lower total benzodiazepine dosage (22.50 mg vs. 115.00 mg,

conclusionsSTT appears to be as effective and safe as traditional fixed-dose regimens of benzodiazepines for the management of inpatient alcohol detoxification. This approach may thereby minimize unnecessary pharmacological exposure, facilitate the earlier integration of patients into psychoeducational and psychosocial interventions, and reduce healthcare costs.

Indexed as

alcohol detoxificationbenzodiazepinefixed-dose regimenHamburg Alcohol Withdrawal Scalesymptom-triggered therapywithdrawal symptoms

Identifiers

PMID40722348
PMCPMC12294124

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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.