"All roads lead to medication?" Qualitative responses from an Australian first-person survey of antipsychotic discontinuation

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the survey was to better understand the experiences of people who attempt antipsychotic discontinuation. Method: A multiple-choice and short-answer survey was distributed in 2011-2012 to potential participants involved in participating organizations. Respondents were asked about past discontinuation events, including decision negotiation and withdrawal experience. This article thematically analyses their free-text responses. Results: There were 98 valid surveys returned. Respondents highlighted the roles of the therapeutic alliance and health and illness explanatory models in understanding the context of discontinuation. Reported impacts of discontinuation were mixe..