Almost half of antidepressant users could quit with GP support, study finds

Almost half of long-term antidepressant users could stop taking the medication with GP support and access to internet or telephone helplines, a study suggests.

Scientists said more than 40% of people involved in the research who were well and not at risk of relapse managed to come off the drugs with advice from their doctors.

They also discovered that patients who could access online support and psychologists by phone had lower rates of depression, fewer withdrawal symptoms and reported better mental wellbeing.

Prof Tony Kendrick, of Southampton University, who was the lead author of the research, said the findings were significant because they showed high numbers of patients withdrawing from the drugs without the need for costly intense therapy sessions.

He said: “This approach could eliminate the risk of serious side-effects for patients using antidepressants for long periods who have concerns about withdrawal.

“Offering patients internet and psychologist telephone support is also cost-effective for the NHS. Our findings show that support not only improves patient outcomes but also tends to reduce the burden on primary healthcare while people taper off antidepressants.”

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Source: The Guardian, 26 June 2024