Perceptions, clinical characteristics, and other factors associated with prolonged and high daily dose of benzodiazepine use among patients with anxiety or depressive disorders

•Knowing alternative treatments decreases the duration and excessive dose of benzodiazepines use.•Older adults who are at high risk of adverse health effect uses benzodiazepines longer.•Difficulty falling asleep is associated longer duration of benzodiazepines use, and suffering from disrupted sleep is associated with higher daily dose of benzodiazepines use.•Higher level of depression and being prescribed second generation antipsychotics are associated with higher daily dose of benzodiazepines use.