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Peer-reviewed scientific and practical journal · since 2006

ISSN 2306-4137
Современная терапия психических расстройств

PRACTICE

Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome

Author information
A.K. Khasanova
Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Healthcare Ministry of Public Health of the Russian Federation
S.N. Mosolov
Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Healthcare Ministry of Public Health of the Russian Federation; Moscow Research Institute of Psychiatry – Branch of the V.P. Serbsky National Medical Research Center of Psychiatry and Narcology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Published
June 30, 2023
Pages
37-47

Abstract

Antidepressants (ADs) are one of the most commonly used classes of drugs, and the frequency of their prescription and duration of use is increasing every year. In clinical practice, doctors often face the need to cancel or replace AD due to lack of efficacy or poor tolerability. This task is not easy for the practitioner, since the withdrawal or abrupt reduction of the dose of AD can lead to the appearance of physical and mental symptoms of withdrawal of varying severity and duration from mild and short-term to severe and long-term, leading to impaired functioning of the patient and psychosocial problems. In the literature, this phenomenon has been called the AD withdrawal syndrome (AWS). The review article presents the main results of clinical trials devoted to the study of AWS, and modern theoretical ideas about this problem. In the epidemiological part of the review, we analyzed the results of 4 international surveys, 137 online posts, 2 systematic reviews, 3 cohort studies, 2 randomized clinical trials with a total sample size of more than 9171 people. Based on which was revealed that the incidence rates of AWS range from 27% to 86%; while 43% - 51% of respondents noted that withdrawal symptoms are severe and can last more than 2 weeks. The article also considers the probable neurobiological mechanisms of the development of AWS, gives practical recommendations and algorithm for the prevention and management of AWS.

Keywords

  • antidepressants, withdrawal syndrome, symptoms, diagnostics, neurobiology

How to Cite

Khasanova, A. ., & Mosolov, S. . (2023). Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome . Current Therapy of Mental Disorders, (2), 37–47. https://doi.org/10.21265/PSYPH.2023.15.79.005

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