A Systematic Review of Antidepressant Withdrawal Effects
This course is based upon material published in Addictive Behaviors and is available as an open-access article.
Introduction: The U.K.’s current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the American Psychiatric Association’s depression guidelines state that withdrawal reactions from antidepressants are ‘self-limiting’ (i.e. typically resolving between 1 and 2 weeks). This systematic review assesses that claim.
Methods: A systematic literature review was undertaken to ascertain the incidence, severity, and duration of antidepressant withdrawal reactions. We identified 23 relevant studies, with diverse methodologies and sample sizes.
Results: Withdrawal incidence rates from 14 studies ranged from 27% to 86% with a weighted average of 56%. Four large studies of severity produced a weighted average of 46% of those experiencing antidepressant withdrawal effects endorsing the most extreme severity rating on offer. Seven of the ten very diverse studies providing data on duration contradict the UK and USA withdrawal guidelines in that they found that a significant proportion of people who experience withdrawal do so for more than two weeks and that it is not uncommon for people to experience withdrawal for several months. The findings of the only four studies calculating mean duration were, for quite heterogeneous populations, 5 days, 10 days, 43 days and 79 weeks.
Conclusions: We recommend that U.K. and U.S.A. guidelines on antidepressant withdrawal be urgently updated as they are clearly at variance with the evidence on the incidence, severity, and duration of antidepressant withdrawal, and are probably leading to the widespread misdiagnosing of withdrawal, the consequent lengthening of antidepressant use, much unnecessary antidepressant prescribing and higher rates of antidepressant prescriptions overall. We also recommend that prescribers fully inform patients about the possibility of withdrawal effects.
This course on antidepressant withdrawal is designed for social workers, professional counselors, psychologists, nurses, and substance abuse counselors, who do clinical work. This course is appropriate for beginning, intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to develop or increase their knowledge of withdrawal effects from antidepressants. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require clinical continuing education courses for license renewal.
Authors: Davies and Read
Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding antidepressant withdrawal effects. Specifically, a professional will:
- Identify the incidence of antidepressant withdrawal reactions
- Recognize the severity of antidepressant withdrawal
- Distinguish the duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects
Citation: Davies, James and Read, John. A Systematic Review Into The Incidence, Severity, and Duration of Antidepressant Withdrawal Effects: Are Guidelines Evidence-Based? Addictive Behaviors 26 August 2018.
This course content is based on a publication that has been peer-reviewed, the scientific standard for evaluating academic work. All studies and scientifically derived evidence have limitations that should be considered. If you have any questions about the accuracy or limitations of the content, please contact us at
support@ce-classes.com and we will get back to you.
This Ce-Classes.com course is approved for CE credit by:
Line 2299,
Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[ID] => 1
[Name] => The American Psychological Association (APA)
[Description] => Ce-Classes.com is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Ce-Classes.com maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
[Category] => National
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[1] => Array
(
[ID] => 2
[Name] => Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
[Description] => Ce-Classes.com, Provider #1142, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Ce-Classes.com maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval Period: 1/5/2029
[Category] => National
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[2] => Array
(
[ID] => 3
[Name] => The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
[Description] => Ce-Classes.com has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6320. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Ce-Classes.com is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
[Category] => National
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[3] => Array
(
[ID] => 6
[Name] => California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
[Description] => The California Board of Behavioral Sciences, BBS, recognizes relevant course work/training that has been approved by nationally recognized certifying bodies, such as APA, to satisfy renewal requirements.
[Category] => Social
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[4] => Array
(
[ID] => 13
[Name] => California Board of Registered Nursing.
[Description] => CEP 15647 Expires 11/30/2026.
[Category] => Nursing
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[5] => Array
(
[ID] => 98
[Name] => California Association of DUI Treatment Programs (CADTP)
[Description] => Provider Number 231
[Category] => CAP
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[6] => Array
(
[ID] => 7
[Name] => California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP)
[Description] => Provider Number OS-12-174-0627 Expires 6-2027
[Category] => Social
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[7] => Array
(
[ID] => 5
[Name] => Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling
[Description] => Provider #852 BAP-Expires 3/31/2027
[Category] => Social
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[8] => Array
(
[ID] => 12
[Name] => Florida Board of Nursing
[Description] => (CE Provider #: 50-4896) Expires 10/31/2028 Do not send certificates to the Florida Board of Nursing. You must keep this certificate for 4 years.
[Category] => Nursing
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[9] => Array
(
[ID] => 91
[Name] => Illinois
[Description] => - CE-Classes.com is a registered social work CE sponsor by the State of Illinois. License 159.001607 Expires 11/30/2027
[Category] => Social
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[10] => Array
(
[ID] => 10
[Name] => Massachusetts Authorization Number
[Description] =>
[Category] => Social
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[11] => Array
(
[ID] => 73
[Name] => New York Mental Health Practitioners Board
[Description] => CE-Classes.com, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Departments State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0260.
[Category] => Social
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[12] => Array
(
[ID] => 72
[Name] => New York Psychology Board
[Description] => CE-Classes.com, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Departments State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0211
[Category] => Psychologist
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[13] => Array
(
[ID] => 19
[Name] => New York Social Work Board
[Description] => - Ce-Classes.com is recognized by the New York State Education
Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of
continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0120.
[Category] => Social
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[14] => Array
(
[ID] => 11
[Name] => Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board
[Description] => - Approval from a state licensing board for counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists is accepted by the OH CSWMFTB.
[Category] => Social
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[15] => Array
(
[ID] => 89
[Name] => Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure
[Description] => (LPCs, LMFTs and LBCs)
[Category] => National
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[16] => Array
(
[ID] => 90
[Name] => South Carolina
[Description] => - CE-Classes.com is approved by the S.C. Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapist, Addiction Counselors, and Psycho-Educational Specialists (#4696).
[Category] => Social
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[17] => Array
(
[ID] => 88
[Name] => Texas Board of Marriage & Family Therapists
[Description] => CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education. Effective 1/1/24, at least half of the 30 hours must be obtained from a provider listed in 801.261(f). This course meets that requirement.
[Category] => Nursing
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[18] => Array
(
[ID] => 9
[Name] => Texas Board of Professional Counselors -
[Description] => CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education. Effective 1/1/24, at least half of the 30 hours must be obtained from a provider listed in 801.261(f). This course meets that requirement.
[Category] => Professional Counselor
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[19] => Array
(
[ID] => 8
[Name] => Texas Board of Social Work Examiners -
[Description] => CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education. Effective 1/1/24, at least half of the 30 hours must be obtained from a provider listed in 801.261(f). This course meets that requirement.
[Category] => Clinical Social Worker
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
)
- The American Psychological Association (APA) Ce-Classes.com is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Ce-Classes.com maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
- Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Ce-Classes.com, Provider #1142, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Ce-Classes.com maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval Period: 1/5/2029
Social workers participating in this course will receive 1 Clinical continuing education clock hours.- The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Ce-Classes.com has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6320. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Ce-Classes.com is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
- California Board of Behavioral Sciences. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences, BBS, recognizes relevant course work/training that has been approved by nationally recognized certifying bodies, such as APA, to satisfy renewal requirements.
- California Board of Registered Nursing. CEP 15647 Expires 11/30/2026.
- California Association of DUI Treatment Programs (CADTP) Provider Number 231
- California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) Provider Number OS-12-174-0627 Expires 6-2027
- Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling Provider #852 BAP-Expires 3/31/2027
- Florida Board of Nursing (CE Provider #: 50-4896) Expires 10/31/2028 Do not send certificates to the Florida Board of Nursing. You must keep this certificate for 4 years.
- Illinois – CE-Classes.com is a registered social work CE sponsor by the State of Illinois. License 159.001607 Expires 11/30/2027
- Massachusetts Authorization Number: 2367%2Fa-systematic-review-of-antidepressant-withdrawal-effects
- New York Mental Health Practitioners Board CE-Classes.com, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Departments State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0260.
- New York Psychology Board CE-Classes.com, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Departments State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0211
- New York Social Work Board – Ce-Classes.com is recognized by the New York State Education
Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of
continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0120.
- Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board – Approval from a state licensing board for counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists is accepted by the OH CSWMFTB.
- Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (LPCs, LMFTs and LBCs)
- South Carolina – CE-Classes.com is approved by the S.C. Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapist, Addiction Counselors, and Psycho-Educational Specialists (#4696).
- Texas Board of Marriage & Family Therapists CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education. Effective 1/1/24, at least half of the 30 hours must be obtained from a provider listed in 801.261(f). This course meets that requirement.
- Texas Board of Professional Counselors – CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education. Effective 1/1/24, at least half of the 30 hours must be obtained from a provider listed in 801.261(f). This course meets that requirement.
- Texas Board of Social Work Examiners – CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education. Effective 1/1/24, at least half of the 30 hours must be obtained from a provider listed in 801.261(f). This course meets that requirement.
