Benzodiazepines and related drugs (BZDs) are effective for insomnia and anxiety in the short term. After few months (four weeks regarding insomnia), the benefit/risk ratio is considerably reduced. Nevertheless, between 2 and 5% of the general population uses them for more than 6 months. Prescribing recommendations are unanimous concerning the short-term use of these substances, but do not specify the optimal ways of reducing doses in a withdrawal programme.~Many factors influence the success of withdrawal, including the duration of withdrawal (how quickly doses are reduced), the half-life of the substance, and number of psychological factors. Studies on BZD withdrawal show that, on average, spontaneous cessation of treatment is 5-10%, withdrawal success is 30-40% following brief intervention and 60-80% following Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy (CBT). These are few, and only one study has tested the efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for benzodiazepine withdrawal. ACT is a contextual behavioral therapy which aims to increase acceptance of the full range of inner experiences including negative thoughts, emotions and sensations, in order to promote values-driven behavior change, leading to an improved quality of life. ACT is notably effective for the treatment of anxiety disorders, depression, psychosis and chronic pain, and some studies have shown the effectiveness of ACT for insomnia.~This study is a four-arms randomized controlled intervention which aims to evaluate the addition to a taper program of an ACT intervention versus a psychological support on one hand, and the duration of withdrawal on the other hand, in patients suffering from hypnotic-dependent insomnia. The entire protocol will be remotely delivered, which no randomized controlled trial has so far evaluated for benzodiazepine withdrawal.
Long-term use of benzodiazepines is a long-standing problem, but the optimal withdrawal modalities are not known. The main objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of a psychological support versus a psychotherapeutic intervention (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, ACT) added to a withdrawal program on the reduction of benzodiazepines use in adults suffering from insomnia and hypnotic dependence.