{"id":934933,"date":"2026-07-14T19:23:38","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T19:23:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/934933\/"},"modified":"2026-07-14T19:23:38","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T19:23:38","slug":"every-time-i-took-a-pill-i-felt-i-was-no-longer-myself-young-adults-describe-antipsychotic-use-after-first-episode-psychosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/934933\/","title":{"rendered":"“Every Time I Took a Pill, I Felt I Was No Longer Myself”: Young Adults Describe Antipsychotic Use After First-Episode Psychosis"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new study<\/a> published online by the Journal of Humanistic Psychology examines young adults\u2019 experience of taking and discontinuing antipsychotic drugs after completing a first-episode psychosis (FEP) program. This study, led by Alona Schneidman from the University of Haifa in Israel, finds that the vast majority of participants had a negative experience of antipsychotics. Participants reported psychiatric staff support, a safe environment, and education around relapse were key facilitators in discontinuing antipsychotics while family reluctance was the key barrier. The authors write:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe present study describes changes in APM use patterns among 23 individuals who completed NAVIGATE, an FEP program. Results indicate that many participants had negative experiences with APMs prior to enrolling in NAVIGATE, primarily reporting emotional emptiness, a sense of an altered self, and significant side effects. During the program, all participants expressed a desire to reduce or discontinue their APM dosage. Specifically, ten participants completely stopped using APMs, six reduced to a minimal dose, and seven maintained their current dose as it aligned better with their familial circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n

The study, published online, is set to appear in a special print issue of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology on first person psychopharmacology\u00a0
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\nAntipsychotic Discontinuation<\/b><\/p>\n

Experts<\/a> have questioned the usefulness of both short- and long-term antipsychotic treatment and pointed to mounting evidence of negative effects. Research<\/a> has found that starting antipsychotics within one month after first-episode psychosis is linked to worse outcomes. Antipsychotics have also been associated with worse cognitive functioning<\/a> after first-episode psychosis. One study<\/a> found that cognitive behavioral therapy for first-episode psychosis led to similar outcomes whether the service user was taking antipsychotics or not.<\/p>\n

Research<\/a> has found that a majority of antipsychotic users would like to reduce or discontinue these drugs. However, one study<\/a> found that mental health staff was reluctant to assist patients and service users in their efforts to reduce or discontinue their dose. Service users have also reported that psychiatric professionals are not helpful<\/a> in their efforts to quit or reduce their antipsychotic use. Despite clinician reluctance to assist in antipsychotic dose reduction and discontinuation, some experts have argued that it is their ethical responsibility<\/a> to do so when patients and service users request it.<\/p>\n

People that discontinue these drugs often experience difficult and severe withdrawal symptoms<\/a> that some service users have described as \u201cthe stuff of demonic nightmares<\/a>.\u201d Research<\/a> has repeatedly found that slowly tapering<\/a> the dose down is the best way to avoid withdrawal<\/a> when discontinuing antipsychotic use. One study found that service users and patients felt empowered<\/a> when they were able to find professional help with tapering antipsychotics. Research has also found that stopping these drugs results in improved social functioning<\/a>, better quality of life, and better long-term recovery<\/a>. One study<\/a> reported that the recovery rate for patients and service users that stopped taking antipsychotics within two years of starting them was six times higher compared to those taking these drugs for more than two years.<\/p>\n

Study Details<\/b><\/p>\n

The goal of the current work was to explore the lived experience of antipsychotic use and discontinuation among young adults that had experienced FEP and completed NAVIGATE, a program designed to help people recover from FEP through resilience training, family education, assistance in returning to\/continuing work and school, and personalized medication management. The authors also wanted to investigate the facilitators and barriers participants experienced in trying to discontinue antipsychotics.<\/p>\n

To be included in the current work, service users had to have participated in the NAVIGATE program for at least three months in the past three years, experience with psychosis, and be at least 18 years old. Twenty-three participants recruited by NAVIGATE clinical staff from four Israeli clinics gave semi-structured interviews around antipsychotic use and discontinuation. The interviews were conducted over Zoom, audio recorded, and transcribed verbatim. The authors then analyzed the interview data for recurring themes.<\/p>\n

The majority of participants were male (16\/23, 70%), and were working or attending school at the time of their interview (16\/23, 70%). About half of the participants were Orthodox (11\/23, 48%) and secular (12\/23, 52%) Jews. All the participants had used antipsychotics prior to attending the NAVIGATE program and all expressed a desire to stop or reduce antipsychotic drug use. Ten participants (44%) had stopped all antipsychotic drug use at the time of their interview, six (26%) had reduced their dose, and seven (30%) were taking their full dose.<\/p>\n

The authors identified three main themes in the interview data:<\/p>\n