IIPDW – New Administrator and New Board
As part-time IIPDW Director, I am very happy to announce that IIPDW has a new administrator/coordinator. Her name is Lucy Fernandes, she lives in London and she will start her role on the 10th of August.
Blog
Maastricht Survey on Antipsychotic Drug Withdrawal Jan 2020 Update
Will Hall provides a video update on his work for the Maastricht Survey on Antipsychotic Drug Withdrawal.
Ebook – Coming off Psychiatric Drugs: Successful Withdrawal From Neuroleptics, Antidepressants, Mood Stabilizers, Ritalin and Tranquilizers
The third, updated and expanded ebook edition of “Coming off Psychiatric Drugs: Successful withdrawal from neuroleptics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, Ritalin and tranquilizers” is now available.
The Reason IIPDW Exists: A Need for Knowledge and Alternatives Regarding Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal
Brief background and history In October 2016 a Scientific Symposium was arranged in Gothenburg by The Extended Therapy Room Foundation. In the invitation one could read: PHARMACEUTICALS – risks and alternatives The number of psychiatric diagnoses and prescriptions of pharmaceuticals to children, youths and adults have sharply increased in Sweden as well as the rest …
IIPDW Conference – Iceland 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.
How User Knowledge of Psychotropic Drug Withdrawal Resulted in the Development of Person-specific Tapering Medication
Coming off psychotropic drugs can cause physical as well as mental withdrawal resulting in failed discontinuation attempts and unnecessary long-term drug use. The first reports about withdrawal appeared in the 1950s, but although patients have been complaining about psychotropic withdrawal problems for decades the first – tardive – acknowledgement by psychatry only came in 1997 with the introduction of the ‘antidepressant discontinuation syndrome’. It was not until 2019 that the UK Royal College of Psychiatrists, for the first time, acknowledged that withdrawal can be severe and persistent. By Jim van Os and Peter C Groot.
Mental Health Europe Launches Short Guide to Psychiatric Diagnosis
Mental Health Europe (MHE) launches a new resource for people experiencing mental health difficulties.
Psychological Support for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal
This week on MIA Radio we turn our attention to support for those who are struggling to withdraw from psychiatric drugs. Recently in the UK, this issue has become headline news with more and more attention being given to the work of groups such as the Council for Evidence Based Psychiatry and peer-led initiatives such as the Bristol Tranquilliser Project.
Recent Developments – Prescribing Rights and Esketamine Approval
A brief update on some recent developments regarding psychologist prescribing rights and licensing psychotropic drugs.
IIPDW Board Member John Read Appears in UEL Video
In this short video, IIPDW Board Member John Read outlines some of the work being undertaken to update UK NICE guidelines on antidepressant withdrawal. The video was produced by the University of East London.