Journal article

Self-reported reasons for reducing or stopping antidepressant medications in primary care: Thematic analysis of the diamond longitudinal study

A Coe, J Gunn, S Fletcher, E Murray, C Kaylor-Hughes

Primary Health Care Research and Development | Published : 2023

Abstract

Background: Current treatment guidelines advise that the deprescribing of antidepressants should occur around 6 months post-remission of symptoms. However, this is not routinely occurring in clinical practice, with between 30% and 50% of antidepressant users potentially continuing treatment with no clinical benefit. To support patients to deprescribe antidepressant treatment when clinically appropriate, it is important to understand what is important to patients when making the decision to reduce or cease antidepressants in a naturalistic setting. Aim: The current study aimed to describe the self-reported reasons primary care patients have for reducing or stopping their antidepressant medica..

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