[[{“type”:“media”,“view_mode”:“media_large”,“fid”:null,“attributes”:{“class”:“media-image alignright size-full wp-image-1608”,“typeof”:“foaf:Image”,“style”:“”,“width”:“100”,“height”:“100”,“alt”:“Reuters”}}]]Professor Matthew Friedman has co-authored a study that shows doctors are moving away from an addictive class of drugs when treating veterans for posttraumatic stress.

Current government guidelines warn against treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with benzodiazepines, which include Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin.

“One of our concerns is that it’s very, very difficult to get patients off benzodiazepines,” said Friedman, professor of psychiatry and of pharmacology and toxicology at Dartmouth Medical School.

The study found that the frequency, duration and dosage of benzodiazepine prescriptions for veterans with PTSD dropped between 1999 and 2009.

Read the full story, published on 12/16/11 by Reuters.