Withdrawal assessment
Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment-Benzodiazepines (CIWA-B)
Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment-Benzodiazepines (CIWA-B) — administration and scoring reference.
Reference information · Official-form reference
- Last content update
- 2026-10-26
- Clinical review
- Not independently reviewed
- Source jurisdiction
- See individual sources
- Coverage
- Official-form reference
| Field | Instrument context |
|---|---|
| Version | CIWA-B; benzodiazepine-specific withdrawal assessment |
| Respondent | Clinician and patient report |
| Purpose | Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment-Benzodiazepines (CIWA-B) — administration and scoring reference. |
Administration
Use the original benzodiazepine withdrawal protocol and its specified observations and symptom ratings. Record the benzodiazepine exposure and clinical course independently.
Scoring method
Benzodiazepine-specific item scores per original protocol.
Interpretation & limitations
- Interpret change with the timing of dose reduction, symptoms, examination and the service’s supervised withdrawal plan.
- Interpret the findings alongside the clinical interview, functioning, history and relevant physical assessment.
- CIWA-B is not CIWA-Ar. A score cannot exclude seizures or delirium, determine taper speed or initiate a dose automatically.
- Use the original instrument and manual for item wording, rating anchors, missing-data rules and any normative conversions. This reference does not establish a diagnosis or select treatment.