By: Marie Collison, Class of ‘25

Depression is a very common and impairing condition, often resulting in costly care. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed as a part of treatment; however, 30–50% of individuals who are prescribed antidepressants do not take them long-term. There are many reasons why a patient may decide to stop taking their medication, such as experiencing negative side effects and avoiding reliance on medication. Due to the nature of SSRIs, patients are advised to gradually reduce their dosage over weeks or even months to reduce the effects of withdrawal. Despite clinical attempts, the majority of individuals still experience withdrawal, with almost half reporting severe symptoms lasting for multiple weeks. In addition, patients often report a gap between their needs and the care their clinicians provide during the withdrawal period.

In 2024, a UK team led by Raqeeb Mahmood of the Department of Psychology at the University of Bath conducted a qualitative interview study to investigate the actual experiences of antidepressant users and how they viewed the withdrawal process. They hoped their findings would help clinicians guide patients through the SSRI withdrawal process with a deeper understanding of their needs. 

The interviews revealed five themes present throughout the experiences reported by participants: a so-called “double-edged sword” impact on cognitive and emotional health, a negative impact on social engagement with others, various impacts on physical health (positive and negative), inadequate support from family and prescribers, and the importance of timing the tapering process. Although these themes were shared amongst all interviewees, there were both positive and negative reports within each category. The researchers also detailed a subtheme of self-management of withdrawal with limited resources and support. It was consistently found that although clinicians thought their patients were informed, patients reported inadequate knowledge about the withdrawal process. In addition, participants reported their clinician was often no more than a prescriber, often providing very little emotional and non-pharmacological support. 

This study highlights new insights into how SSRI withdrawal impacted users’ emotions, social interactions, and cognitive processes, thus supporting the importance of approaching SSRI use from several facets of life. In addition, it reinforces the need for comprehensive education and resources for individuals experiencing SSRI withdrawal. Healthcare professionals need to focus beyond pharmacological interventions and use the themes outlined in this study as a tool to guide their practices.

Citation: 

Mahmood, R., Wallace, V., Wiles, N., Keßler, D., Button, K. S., & Fairchild, G. (2024). The lived experience of withdrawal from Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants: A qualitative interview study. Health Expectations, 27(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13966