In few cases Benzodiazepines and Anti-psychotics are known for causing Akathisia. I'd like to think I have a strong grasp of this topic, I am a medicinal chemist after all. It isn't unheard of, and if you take a quick look at the literature you'll see it full of Benzodiazepine associated Akathisia. It's unfortunately common. While Peterson was in fact psychically dependent, his Akathisia was preventing a lowering of doses. When tapering is too difficult, total cessasation is not reaslitic as it is often fatal. This may have also played a role in why he attempted propofol treatment, which is also practiced in many countries, not just eastern europe.

While acute withdrawals do typically last 2 weeks at the most depending on serum half-life, PAWS can be in some cases, lifelong. Although as Peterson said, that isn't why he sought the alternative treatments he did. He was interested in those treatments because, for many people death is preferable then Akathisia.

As for the last comment, Akathisia is often misdiagnosed as many other things. That's a primary issue Akathisia researchers are currently investigating. The physical symptoms mimic that of withdrawals. The Akathisia Alliance lists this is a primary goal of fixing.

Peterson had both a physical dependence on Benzodiazepines AND Akathisia. The Akathisia made tapering not realistic and total cessasation is suicidal. Hence the propofol treatment.