James Cook University First to Teach Safe Deprescribing of Psychiatric Medications

James Cook University’s College of Medicine undergraduate and postgraduate medical degrees have become the first in Australia to teach doctors how to help patients who want to safely reduce or stop taking antidepressants and other psychotropic medications.

Associate Professor Carlo Longhitano, Head of Psychiatry at JCU, and Dr Sam Manger, GP and Senior Lecturer at JCU, have led this change by integrating deprescribing in the mental health teaching curriculum of future doctors graduating from JCU and postgraduate health professionals trained in lifestyle medicine. “Psychological issues are the most common reason for a patient visit to the GP, increasing from 61% in 2017 to 72% in 2023 according to the RACGP’s General Practice: Health of the Nation report,” said A/Prof Longhitano. “Around 45 million mental health-related medications were dispensed in 2022–23, with 85% prescribed by GPs. Antidepressants are helpful and effective for many people, but they are not generally advised to be used for longer than 6–12 months, and can come with serious side effects,” said Dr Manger.…

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The Art of Healing (Digital) - 1 Issue, Vol 1 Issue 90

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