Psychiatry Addresses Long-Term Antidepressant Use Uncertainty

Case Western psychiatry professor Awais Aftab, writing in the New York Times and his newsletter, argues psychiatry should engage transparently with patients' concerns about long-term antidepressant and SSRI use. He outlines risks including withdrawal symptoms (dizziness, insomnia, "brain zaps") and psychological dependence, and urges clinician-supervised, gradual tapering while acknowledging dosing and protocol challenges. The piece highlights clinicians' frequent failure to address patient ambivalence and calls for informed, individualized decisions.