The Benzodiazepine Dependence Questionnaire (BDEPQ): Validity and reliability in Mexican psychiatric patients

Abstract Background Benzodiazepine (BZD) dependence is a condition generally circumscribed to a therapeutic framework. Up to 44% of chronic users become dependent. The widespread use of BZD in psychiatry requires the evaluation of psychometric properties of self-reported instruments to characterize this phenomenon. Objective To examine the reliability, construct and criterion validity of the Benzodiazepine Dependence Questionnaire (BDEPQ) in Mexican psychiatric patients. Method Patients were included if they met DSM-IV criteria for any Axis I disorder and were BZD users. A total of 150 patients were recruited. Diagnoses were made with the SCID-I and BZD dependence was determined with an adaptation of the substance dependence section of the SCID-I. All patients answered the BDEPQ. Results Almost half of the patients met criteria for BZD dependence. The BDEPQ showed adequate factor loadings with strong alpha values for the subscales and total score. A cut-off value of 23 reached the most stable sensitivity and specificity values. Conclusions Psychometric properties of the BDEPQ in Mexican psychiatric patients support its utility as a tool for the clinical work and research as it shows to be a useful instrument for the early recognition of BZD dependence in clinical populations.