OBJECTIVES: To assess treatment patterns, patient characteristics, and outcomes for respondents with depression who were prescribed benzodiazepines (BZDs). METHODS: Survey-eligible adults with ≥2 medical claims for depression from 6/1/2009-5/31/2010 in the HealthCore Integrated Research Database were invited to participate in this retrospective/prospective study. Consenting respondents completed index and 6-month post-index surveys assessing depression, anxiety, and other health measures. Respondents’ survey data were linked to 24 months of claims data. Respondents with and without BZD prescriptions ±6 months from index survey date were identified.  Healthcare utilization and costs were assessed pre- and post-index survey date and compared across users and non-users using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Of 970 respondents who completed both surveys, 638 (66%) were prescribed BZDs and 332 (34%) were not. Respondents with and without BZD prescriptions were similar.  Mean age was 47.9 and 45.7 years, respectively. The majority of respondents were female, overweight/obese, married/cohabiting, and college educated. Respondents prescribed BZDs were more likely to have pre-index diagnoses of double depression (10.8% vs. 6.6%, p=.0338), anxiety (90.4% vs. 65.7%, p<.0001), and a higher mean Quan-Charlson Comorbidity Index score (0.7 vs. 0.5, p=.0393) as well as higher depression, fatigue, pain, insomnia, and anxiety index survey scores. Tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and second-generation antipsychotic use were higher for respondents prescribed BZDs (all p<.05). Mental health-related resource utilization involving psychiatrist visits was significantly higher for respondents prescribed BZDs at baseline and follow-up (all p<.05). Although total annual medical mental health–related costs were similar ($3, 492 vs. $3,054, p=.5229), pharmacy and psychiatrist visit costs were significantly greater for respondents prescribed BZDs CONCLUSIONS: A majority of respondents with depression also had anxiety and were prescribed BZDs. Results suggest that BZD use was associated with more pronounced comorbid conditions and symptoms of depression, as well as higher health care resource utilization and costs.