Mental health professionals' views and experiences of antipsychotic reduction and discontinuation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The widely established treatment for psychosis is long-term antipsychotic medication. However, many people stop taking this treatment, and request other options. There are also growing concerns about adverse effects, but currently no professional guidelines to support reducing or stopping these drugs. The views and experiences of individual mental health professionals around reducing and stopping antipsychotics are therefore crucial in treatment decisions.

Methods

We conducted 7 focus groups with prescribing psychiatrists and other members of community-based statutory mental health services in London. Participants discussed their views about, experiences, and processes of antipsychotic reduction and discontinuation. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

R

SUBMITTER: Cooper RE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6586401 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature