View source for Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Benzodiazepines

== Overview ==
The Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Benzodiazepines (CIWA-B) is a clinician-administered tool used to assess the severity of benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms and guide treatment decisions. While less widely validated than its counterpart for alcohol (CIWA-Ar), CIWA-B offers a structured approach to monitor symptom progression and response to therapy.

== Components ==
CIWA-B typically includes scoring across the following domains:

* Anxiety
* Sensory disturbances (e.g., hyperacusis, photophobia)
* Headache or fullness in head
* Tremor
* Nausea/vomiting
* Tension or restlessness
* Depersonalization or derealization
* Visual or auditory disturbances
* Tactile disturbances
* Paranoia/delusions
* Orientation and clouding of sensorium


Each item is rated on a scale (usually 0–4 or 0–7), and total scores are used to categorize severity:

Mild: < 20

Moderate: 20–40

Severe: > 40

== Clinical Use ==

Best applied in inpatient or closely monitored outpatient settings.

Can be used with symptom-triggered therapy: benzodiazepines are administered based on threshold scores rather than a fixed schedule.

Assists in tailoring tapering protocols, especially when transitioning patients from high-dose or short-acting benzodiazepines.

== Limitations ==

Not as commonly used or validated as CIWA-Ar.

May be more complex to administer due to the cognitive and perceptual domains assessed.

Requires clinical judgment and experience to distinguish withdrawal symptoms from psychiatric comorbidity.

== References ==

Loebstein R, Shirazi I, Gomolin IH, et al. Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment–Benzodiazepines (CIWA-B): a tool for measuring benzodiazepine withdrawal. J Clin Psychopharmacol.

American Psychiatric Association. Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Substance Use Disorders. 2nd ed. 2006.