Evidence / 2019
A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects: Are guidelines evidence-based?
Davies J, Read J (2019). Addictive Behaviors.
- Population
- People discontinuing antidepressants (studies of varying design)
- Sample
- 14 studies contributing incidence estimates (range reported by authors)
- Condition
- Antidepressant withdrawal / discontinuation
- Medication focus
- Antidepressants
- Jurisdiction
- International
- Last reviewed
- 1 September 2026
- PMID
- 30292574
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.08.027
Plain-language finding
The authors reported withdrawal incidence estimates ranging from 27% to 86% across included studies, with a weighted average of 56%, and argued that some clinical guidelines have understated the frequency and duration of antidepressant discontinuation symptoms.
Important limitation
Included studies vary widely in method, population and how withdrawal was defined. Self-report surveys can overestimate; industry trials can underestimate. Incidence is not the same as causation in an individual. Later meta-analyses using different methods have produced lower estimates (see Henssler 2024).
Why we cite this
Widely cited synthesis arguing that antidepressant discontinuation symptoms are common in some study designs. Presented alongside later, lower estimates so the uncertainty stays visible.
antidepressant · withdrawal · discontinuation · systematic-review
Research demonstrates a statistical relationship. Association is not causation. Timing, dose, confounding and missing data still matter.
Claims this source supports
Stopping or reducing many antidepressants can be followed by discontinuation symptoms in a substantial minority of people. Estimates of how often this happens vary widely by study method. Withdrawal is not the same as addiction, and it is not automatically the same as relapse.
This claim retains disagreement in the literature. Open the classification to read both sides.
Last reviewed 1 September 2026