transtornos due to uso of sedatives, hypnotics or anxiolytics are characterised by the padrão and consequences of uso of these substances. Sedatives, hypnotics, and anxiolytics are typically prescribed for the short-term treatment of anxiety or insomnia and are also employed to provide sedation for medical procedures. They include the benzodiazepines and the non-benzodiazepine positive allosteric modulators of GABA receptors (i.e., ‘Z-drugs’) as well as many other compounds. Sedatives, hypnotics, and anxiolytics include barbiturates, which are available much less commonly now than in previous decades. Sedatives, hypnotics, and anxiolytics have dependência-inducing properties that are related to the dose and duration of their uso. They may cause intoxicação, dependência and abstinência. Several other mental transtornos induced by sedatives, hypnotics, or anxiolytics are recognized.