What helps, what hinders antidepressant discontinuation? Qualitative analysis of patients' experiences and expectations.

Patients prefer to discontinue antidepressants within structured frameworks that provide information and support. Identified facilitators and barriers may help optimise appropriate use and discontinuation of antidepressants in routine practice. The utility of functional expectations and specification of individualised approaches to minimise dysfunctional expectations, adapted to patients' previous experiences, appear to be especially important.