Six-week trial with diazepam: some clinical observations.

Side effects, improvement, and predictors of response were examined in 295 patients treated for greater than or equal to 1 week with diazepam; 234 of these patients completed 6 weeks of treatment. The greatest improvement occurred during the first week of treatment. Sedation was the predominant side effect. Predictors of improvement included low educational level, lack of previous treatment, presence of precipitating stress, low occupational and/or family adjustment, low levels of trait anxiety, and high levels of state anxiety.