Studied 53 psychiatric patients (aged 17-70 yrs) treated with benzodiazepines (BZP) continuously for more than 3 mo after discontinuation of therapy with the drug. A simple clinical assessment of patient outcome was made before and after BZP discontinuation as remitted, partially improved, and unimproved. The Ss were diagnosed as having either anxiety, depressive, psychoactive substance abuse, obsessive compulsive or somatoform disorders. A significantly better outcome was found after substituting BZP with tricyclic antidepressants and/or small doses of neuroleptics especially in anxiety disorders, younger patients and those receiving antidepressants.