The effects of SSRI withdrawal on mood and neurocognitive function
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The effects of antidepressant medication withdrawal on mood and neurocognitive function
IRAS ID
306441
Contact name
Raqeeb Mahmood
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bath
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 2 days
Research summary
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of antidepressant withdrawal on participants’ mood and symptoms in the first 4 weeks of withdrawal and changes in their cognitive processing abilities (how they process emotional and social information) over the first 3 months. We will also study whether early changes in mood, withdrawal symptoms, or cognitive processing can be used to predict relapse up to 6 months after withdrawal. Research has demonstrated that antidepressants help improve mood and positive thinking, but many individuals end up on antidepressants for a sustained period of time which is not ideal given their negative side effects, such as nausea, insomnia, and sexual dysfunction. However, little is known about what happens to individuals when they stop taking antidepressants. Who is likely to relapse and become depressed again, and who will stay well, and can any of the data help us to predict patient outcomes? The study aims to answer these questions to help us understand the withdrawal process in more detail.
By examining changes in mood and symptoms early in the withdrawal process using a mobile phone app, we aim to provide rich data about withdrawal effects in real-time. We are also interested in testing the effects of antidepressant withdrawal on cognitive (especially emotional and social) processing. By examining changes in the way people process emotional and social information during withdrawal, we hope to improve our understanding of how antidepressants work. Research has demonstrated that antidepressants help improve mood and positive thinking but very few studies have looked at what happens when people stop taking them.
This is an observational 6-month follow-up study conducted online (remotely) with individuals who have been taking antidepressants but are currently well enough to come off them. There will be a group who withdraw from antidepressants and go through the tapering process and a control group of individuals who maintain on antidepressants in the study. Participants will independently choose to withdraw or maintain their medication at baseline. They will participate in a total of 4 online sessions (Baseline, 4 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months follow up), which will involve completing some computer-based cognitive tasks and questionnaires. We hope the data will be useful in helping GPs to manage the process of antidepressant withdrawal. This research also has the potential to help identify which factors are important in predicting depressive relapse - a key reason for the increased prescribing and use of antidepressants in the UK.
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SW/0163
Date of REC Opinion
14 Jan 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion