Study examines effects of stopping psychiatric medication

This study is novel because it asks questions about stopping to take medications from the consumer’s point of view.”Many industry-funded studies have asked patients why they stop taking their medications, but typically with a view to increase compliance, according to Cohen. By contrast, this study asks consumers what they experienced while coming off drugs, who helped them make and carry out their decision, and whether they were satisfied with their attempted or completed discontinuation.“Over 70 percent of our study sample had taken medication for more than a decade; however, these individuals reported having little to rely on when discontinuing except the internet and social support in order to endure withdrawal. Limiting access to care through cuts to health and psychosocial se rvices can only make that situation worse,” says principal investigator Laysha Ostrow, founder and CEO of Live and Learn, a California-based social enterprise that provides research, technical assistance and knowledge translation services to behavioral health systems. “Most were working with a p rovider at the time but did not find them helpful in the process. However, even though it was often complicated and difficult, the majority who were able to come off medication completely were satisfied with their decision to do so.”Cohen said that there are still plenty of challenges for researchers who are examining this topic.“There’s a lot of work to do to understand how people come off m...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news