Description
Book SynopsisOne in six people in the US are currently taking psychotropic drugs. In 80% of cases, the medication is taken for long-term use and predominantly involves new-generation antidepressants, such as SSRIs (e.g. paroxetine) and SNRIs (e.g. venlafaxine). When patients want to stop taking these drugs and/or their physicians decide it is time for them to stop, substantial problems often can ensue. About 50% of patients experience withdrawal symptoms that do not necessarily subside after a few days or weeks and may be severe and debilitating. Physicians often do not know what to do in these situations. As a result, patients experiencing the anguish and mental pain of withdrawal syndromes are unlikely to receive appropriate medical attention. Discontinuing antidepressants is a highly technical challenge that requires specific strategies. This handbook guides clinicians through each clinical step (assessment; what the counter-indications would be for stopping or continuing; and how discontinuatio
Trade ReviewAs with Fava's earlier writing -- among the first to reckon seriously with antidepressant withdrawal in clinical settings -- his unflinching focus on the condition ensures that his investigation carries weight and requires full consideration. * Christopher Lane, Psychology Today *
Table of Contents1: Gaining Insight of the Problem 2: The Clinical Manifestations of Withdrawal Following Antidepressant Drugs Discontinuation 3: The Associated Clinical Manifestations of Behavioral Toxicity 4: Understanding the Pathophysiology of Withdrawal Syndromes 5: The Decision of Discontinuing Antidepressants 6: The Setting of Guided Antidepressant Discontinuation 7: The Role of Clinical Assessment 8: Pharmacological Strategies and Options 9: First Psychotherapeutic Module: Explanatory Therapy 10: Second Psychotherapeutic Module: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy 11: Third Psychotherapeutic Module: Well-Being Therapy 12: Prevention of Dependence and Withdrawal with Antidepressant Medications 13: A Different Psychiatry is Possible
