Two New Research Opportunities
Two new research teams are seeking patients impacted by benzodiazepines to discuss their experiences. Both teams are conducting short surveys. If you have taken a benzodiazepine, please consider helping them by sharing your experience. Neither team is affiliated with BIC.
Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Experiences Amongst Autistic and Neurotypical Individuals
Researchers
Lara Marina Cameron, Hilary Norman
University Affiliation
Goldsmiths, University of London
Ethical Body
Goldsmiths Research Ethics Sub-Committee
Time Burden
The survey should take approximately 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the level of detail provided in the open-ended questions
Contact
Lara Marina Cameron lcame002@gold.ac.uk
Join research on benzodiazepine experiences and withdrawal. The researchers are seeking insights from both neurotypical and autistic individuals. Your experience can drive change in awareness and support strategies. Participation is confidential and impactful.
Exploring the Role of Pre-Benzo Trauma in Long-Term Post-Benzo Injury Symptoms of Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome
Researchers
Jacob Ressler, Tyler Jean, Saahoon Hong
University
Indiana University School of Social Work
Ethical Body
IU IRB
Time Burden
10-15 minutes
Contact
Jacob Ressler resslerj@iu.edu
The researchers are excited to announce the opportunity to participate in a study that was born in the benzo support community. Folks in all stages of healing helped to formulate the nature of the questions, provided input on survey design, and have been involved in each phase up to this invitation to participate. The results of this Indiana University IRB-approved study have the potential to greatly impact our understanding of factors that enable the development of post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) and can open the door to interventions to promote healing from benzo injuries. If you’re 18 or older and have been through benzo withdrawal at least once as an adult, please consider spending 10-15 min completing the survey – it may have a much bigger impact than you expect!
According to the papers proposing the term BIND, it does not specifically refer to protracted withdrawal or any withdrawal symptoms, but to benzo effects in general. Or have I missed something?
I don’t think calling protracted benzo withdrawal BIND will add to clarifying understanding of protracted withdrawal, and the term BIND for benzo withdrawal, protracted or otherwise, suggests it’s a different beast than any other psychotropic withdrawal, thus clouding understanding of the general problem of psychotropic withdrawal.
For example, adoption of BIND for benzo withdrawal syndrome could beg creation of other acronyms, e.g. AIND, SIND, PIND, and OIND for, respectively, antidepressant, stimulant, marijuana, and opiate withdrawal syndromes.
This to my mind would be a setback for the general field of withdrawalogy.
Induced Neurological Dysfunction (IND) is an appropriate way to described the effect of psychotropics, which by definition change neurological functioning. Some of those changes are deemed beneficial by the medical establishment. The deleterious ones, such as withdrawal syndromes, need better recognition.
Re your study on benzodiazepines:
We should all transition away from old terminology and use BIND. This looks like a potentially important project and it should be delayed if necessary to revise it to define BIND and refer to BIND rather than to PAWS all the way through.
I heard about the project on the Facebook page for BIC, the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition.
Regards,
Joshua Ireland
This in regard to:
Exploring The Role Of Pre-Benzo Trauma In Long-Term Post-Benzo Injury Symptoms Of Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome
I sent an email to the study author Jacob Ressler about the possibility substituting BIND for PAWS. He replied that he agrees with the need for consistent terminology and would reference BIND in any publications resulting from this study, but that for the purposes of the study PAWS is at the present is the more established term. He’ll look into whether it’s possible to add a footnote to the study mentioning the new term BIND.
Excellent!