Exploring Long-term Antidepressant Use in General Practice
About the study
Background
This research brought together researchers interested in discontinuing inappropriate medications in general practice (General Practice Clinical Unit) and researchers interested in promoting psychosocial treatment alternatives (Psychology).
This seeding grant represented the first step in developing a complementary team approach toward reducing long-term antidepressant use in general practice.
There is considerable concern in Australia about increasing antidepressant use, especially increasing long-term use. Australia has one of the highest rates of antidepressant use in the world.
Aim
The aim was to investigate how long-term antidepressant use can be reduced, focusing specifically on ways to facilitate medication discontinuation and increase uptake of low-intensity psychosocial interventions for depression relapse in the general practice setting.
Design
We conducted a qualitative interview study that explores GPs’ insights about long-term antidepressant use and prescribing.
We conducted a systematic review to assess the efficacy of social group interventions for depression in adults (a secondary aim of the review was to assess efficacy of such interventions in a general practice setting).
Timeline
January 2019 to January 2020.
Publications
Donald, Maria, Partanen, Riitta, Sharman, Leah, Lynch, Johanna, Dingle, Genevieve A., Haslam, Catherine and van Driel, Mieke (2021). Long-term antidepressant use in general practice: a qualitative study of GPs' views on discontinuation. British Journal of General Practice, 71 (708), BJGP.2020.0913-e516. doi: 10.3399/bjgp.2020.0913
The effects of social group interventions for depression: systematic review
Dingle, Genevieve A., Sharman, Leah S., Haslam, Catherine, Donald, Maria, Turner, Cynthia, Partanen, Riitta, Lynch, Johanna, Draper, Grace and van Driel, Mieke L. (2021). The effects of social group interventions for depression: systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 281, 67-81. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.11.125
Funding source
The University of Queensland through collaborative seeding grant: Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences and Faculty of Medicine.
