Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation syndrome: Understanding, recognition, and management for psychologists

Psychologists increasingly provide psychotherapeutic services to patients r eceiving concomitant pharmacotherapy. Ongoing experience with the relativel y new selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and other atypical antidepres sants has revealed a discontinuation syndrome that emerges following abrupt or tapered withdrawal from these agents. The syndrome has both somatic and psychological characteristics, which tend to be mild and transient but can also be more distressing and become temporarily debilitating. Psychologist s need to be aware of the potential for these events, as they are in an opt imal position to collaborate with physicians and other prescribing clinicia ns to prevent or manage this syndrome.