Antidepressant review toolkit
Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and led by the University of East Anglia, this research will co-design a toolkit for the NHS to support healthcare professionals to stop antidepressants when right for the patient.
1 in 5 adults in the UK are prescribed an antidepressant. While these medicines provide vital relief for many, research shows that most people only need them for 6 to 12 months until they feel better. However, many people remain on medication for much longer than necessary, which increases the risk of patient’s experiencing side effects and leads to unnecessary NHS spending. We recognise that long-term antidepressant use in necessary for some patients. Our research is about empowering healthcare professionals and patients to safely and effectively stop antidepressants when it is the right time.
Stopping antidepressants can be difficult. Patients often fear their symptoms will return, and they may experience withdrawal effects. Currently, primary care healthcare professionals like GPs, pharmacists and nurses often lack the resources or coordinated strategies to support patients when it is the right time to stop.
This research aims to solve this by co-designing a "Toolkit" for NHS Integrated Care Systems (ICSs). This Toolkit will give healthcare professionals the strategy and resources they need to help patients stop antidepressants safely, access non-medical support, and monitor their wellbeing.
Meet the Patient and Public Involvement team
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Olivia Kersey
Patient and Public Involvement Lead
"I'm very proud to be involved with this important project. For people who go to the GP with mental health difficulties, being prescribed antidepressants is not the end of the story – that treatment might not be the right fit for them long-term. By co-producing a toolkit for primary care professionals supporting people on antidepressants, we hope that we can help more people stop unnecessary medication in a way that is safe, effective, and has been informed by real-world experience insights from beginning to end."
Meet the research team
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This project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) under its Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme (Grant Reference Number NIHR209169). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.