Experience of antidepressant use and discontinuation: A qualitative synthesis of the evidence.
Marie Crowe, Maree Inder, Cate McCall
PMID 35713005WHAT IT FOUND
People taking antidepressants described feeling trapped by a 'chemical imbalance' narrative that stigmatized them and masked their real problems.
Many stopped taking medication as prescribed or found it made them feel 'not myself,' while withdrawal fears kept them taking drugs they wanted to quit.
Key findings
01Participants described antidepressants as the only option available during crisis, often feeling bullied or shamed into accepting the medical model.
02Many experienced emotional blunting, feeling 'dulled' or 'blocked,' which led them to view the medication as masking the real problem rather than curing it.
03Attempts to discontinue were hindered by severe withdrawal symptoms and fear of relapse, creating a vicious cycle of unwanted continued use.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The review excluded studies on children, adolescents, and exclusively older adults, so it does not reflect the experiences of these groups. One large study (n=1,747) accounted for 59% of the total participants, which may skew the overall findings. Many included studies did not clearly report the relationship between the researcher and the participant, which can influence qualitative data. The review focused on adults in Western countries (UK, Netherlands, USA, Australia, etc.), limiting generalizability to other cultural contexts. The synthesis is based on self-reported experiences and does not measure clinical outcomes or efficacy of treatments.
Declared interests
No conflict of interest has been declared by the authors.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these findings as evidence that antidepressants are ineffective or that patients should stop taking them. The review reports subjective experiences of stigma and side effects, not clinical outcomes or safety data. Abrupt discontinuation can be dangerous; patients should always consult their prescriber before changing medication.