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WITHDRAWAL FROM PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS 

Reykjavik, Iceland 

Friday 16 – Saturday 17 October 2020

This is the first conference of the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal, and will bring together international experts in the field, and leaders from many different countries. The three themes underpinning the conference are safe withdrawal from psychiatric medication, alternatives to psychiatric medication, and the need to question the dominance of medication in mental health care. 

The main speakers have been confirmed: 

Bob Whitaker

Bob is an international critic of the psychiatric establishment, and author of ‘Mad in America’ and ‘Anatomy of an Epidemic’.

He will talk about how and why psychiatric medication has taken psychiatry in an unhelpful direction.

Joanna Moncrieff 

Joanna is a London-based critical psychiatrist and researcher, and author of ‘The Myth of the Chemical Cure’ and ‘The Bitterest Pills’. 

She will talk about why psychiatric medication is such a problem.

Laura Delano

Laura is an ex-psychiatric patient from USA who has left the mental health system behind, and now directs two projects: the ‘Inner Compass Initiative’ and ‘The Withdrawal Project’.  

She will talk about psychiatric drug withdrawal, from her own experience. 

Magnus Hald 

Magnus is a psychiatrist at the University Hospital of North-Norway, and is currently setting up one of Norway’s state-sponsored drug-free treatment units in Tromsø. 

He will talk about the background to this ground-breaking initiative, and its progress.

Other conference events

• Formal welcome, and presentations of work and issues in Iceland 
• Updates on progress in various other countries 
• Reflection and connection groups 
• Plenty of opportunity for discussion and networking 
• Conference dinner 
• Opportunity (on Sunday 18 October) to explore Reykjavik and Iceland 

More information and booking available here.

RECENT NEWS

Registration now open for the IIPDW Conference in Iceland, 16-17 October 2020

Psychological Support for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal

IIPDW Board member John Read contributes to a piece in the Scottish Herald written by Health Correspondent Helen McArdle.

UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Updates Antidepressant Withdrawal Guidance

How to get help if you’re hooked on antidepressants: GPs must now warn people they face MONTHS of withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking depression pills – here’s how to do it safely

Auður Axels­dóttir interviews Magnus P. Hald

Podcast interview with Dr Carina Håkansson and Professor John Read

Fears UK Could Follow the US into Opioid Crisis

Royal College of Psychiatrists Changes its Position on Antidepressant Withdrawal

Maund et al.:Managing Antidepressant Discontinuation: A Systematic Review.

Do we need knowledge about withdrawing from psyhiatric drugs? If yes, what kind of knowledge and for whom?

Workshop in Norway, Januar 17, 2019 with Carina Håkansson, Magnus Hald and Ottar Ness among others.

OUR AIMS

• Develop research and practice-based knowledge that will facilitate safe reduction of and withdrawal from psychiatric drugs.
• Contribute to evidence-based practices for reduction of and withdrawal from psychiatric drugs, and facilitate their inclusion in general practice guidelines.
• Support the human right to informed choice with regard to psychiatric drugs.
• Promote practices that help families, friends, and practitioners support safe reduction of and withdrawal from psychiatric drugs, and take into account relational and social aspects essential to this process.