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The following is a summary of “Assessment of beliefs and attitudes towards benzodiazepines using machine learning based on social media posts: an observational study,” published in the October 2024 issue of Psychiatry by Anta et al.
Benzodiazepines, prescribed for anxiety and sleep issues, can cause dependence and other risks with prolonged use, raising public health concerns.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to explore public beliefs and opinions about benzodiazepines, aiming to gain insights into usage patterns.
They collected English-language public tweets mentioning benzodiazepines between January 1, 2019, and October 31, 2020. Researchers analyzed tweet content and user characteristics using a mixed-method approach, including manual analysis and semi-supervised machine learning (same written within bracket).
The results showed that over half of Twitter users emphasized the efficacy of benzodiazepines, with little mention of side effects. Patients and their families were the most active in these discussions, while healthcare professionals and institutions were notably absent (same written within bracket). The most frequently mentioned drugs aligned with those most prescribed by healthcare providers.
The study concluded that there is a need to educate physicians, patients, and families about the risks of benzodiazepine use and to promote clinical guidelines for proper management.
Source: bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-024-06111-5
