'Never change a winning team': GPs' perspectives on discontinuation of long-term antidepressants

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of primary health care 2021-12, Vol.39 (4), p.533-542
• Main Authors: Ellen, Van Leeuwen, Anthierens, Sibyl, van Driel, Mieke L., Sutter, An De, Branden, Evelien van den, Christiaens, Thierry
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antidepressants; Antidepressive Agents - adverse effects; Attitude of Health Personnel; Clinical decision making; discontinuation; Discontinued; Family physicians; Futility; general practitioner; General Practitioners; Humans; Interviews; Long term; long-term use; Mental depression; Mental health; Motivation; Original; Positive life events; Prescription drugs; Primary care; Qualitative Research; Relapse; Teams
• ISSN: 0281-3432; 1502-7724
• DOI: 10.1080/02813432.2021.2006487

Long-term antidepressant use, much longer than recommended by guidelines, can harm patients and generate unnecessary costs. Most antidepressants are prescribed by general practitioners (GPs) but it remains unclear why they do not discontinue long-term use. To explore GPs' views and experiences of discontinuing long-term antidepressants, barriers and facilitators of discontinuation and required support. Qualitative study in Belgian GPs. 20 semi-structured face-to-face interviews with GPs. Interviews were analysed thematically. The first theme, 'Success stories' describes three strong motivators to discontinue antidepressants: patient health issues, patient requests and a new positive life event. Second, not all GPs consider long-term antidepressant use a 'problem' as they perceive antidepressants as effective and safe. GPs' main concern is the risk of relapse. Third, GPs foresee that discontinuation of antidepressants is not an easy and straightforward process. GPs weigh up whether they have the necessary skills and whether it is worth the effort to start this process. Discontinuation of long-term antidepressants is a difficult and uncertain process for GPs, especially in the absence of a facilitating life-event or patient demand. The absence of a compelling need for discontinuation and fear of relapse of symptoms in a stable patient are important barriers for GPs when considering discontinuation. In order to increase GPs' motivation to discontinue long-term antidepressants, more emphasis on the futility of the actual effect and on potential harms related to long-term use is needed. KEY POINTS Current awareness: Long-term antidepressant use, much longer than recommended by guidelines, can harm patients and generate unnecessary costs. Main statements:  * Discontinuation of long-term antidepressants is a difficult and uncertain process for GPs.  * More emphasis on the futility of the actual effect of antidepressants and on potential harms related to long-term use is needed.