Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41148179›Full record

ArticleSchizophrenia bulletin2026

A Scoping Review of Methods, Guidelines, and Protocols Used for Dose Reduction or Discontinuation of Antipsychotic Medication in People Affected by Psychotic Disorders.

Isabelle Jeffares, Dara Friars, Helena Plapp, Kelly Allott, Cathal Cadogan, Dolores Keating, Catherine Mooney, Karen O'Connor, Brian O'Donoghue

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in Schizophrenia bulletin, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Isabelle JeffaresDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland.
Dara FriarsMental Health Services, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3050, Australia.
Helena PlappCluain Mhuire Community Mental Health Service, Blackrock, Co Dublin, A94 VK83, Ireland.
Kelly AllottOrygen, Centre for Youth Mental Health, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-0640-4634
Cathal CadoganSchool of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, D02 PN40, Ireland.
Dolores KeatingPharmacy Department, Saint John of God University Hospital, Dublin, Stillorgan,Dublin, D94 FH92, Ireland.
Catherine MooneySchool of Computer Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, D04 B1W8, Ireland.ORCID 0000-0002-7696-1364
Karen O'ConnorRISE Early Intervention for Psychosis Service, Blackpool, Co Cork, Ireland.
Brian O'DonoghueDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland.ORCID 0000-0001-6240-6952

Funding

Health Research Board (HRB) of Ireland APRO-2023-005
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIndividuals affected by psychotic disorders often decide to have a trial of dose reduction or discontinuation of their antipsychotic medications; however, there is a lack of evidence-based guidance for this practice. There is limited knowledge on the different methods for dose reduction or discontinuation of antipsychotic medications in which methods might be the safest and most effective. This scoping review aims to identify methods of antipsychotic dose reduction and discontinuation, to develop a comprehensive inventory of tapering strategies. STUDY

designA systematic search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Cochrane to identify publications involving antipsychotic dose reduction or discontinuation. We included primary studies, systematic reviews, theoretical papers, and guidelines. STUDY

resultsA total of 9005 unique articles were identified, and full text screening was conducted on 459 of these. Thirty-two articles were included in the final analysis: 28 related to oral antipsychotic medications and 4 to long acting injectables. Three broad categories of dose reduction/discontinuation were identified-immediate, rapid (<4 weeks), and gradual (short 4-26 weeks and long≥26 weeks). Further subtypes were identified, with reduction based on either the original starting dose or the most recent dose after the last reduction. The hyperbolic method estimates the dose reduction based on a gradual reduction in the D2 receptor occupancy.

conclusionsA wide range of antipsychotic tapering methods have been implemented internationally with no consensus on the best approach. The results of this scoping review could help to inform research on establishing the most effective methods of antipsychotic discontinuation.

Indexed as

Antipsychotic AgentsDrug TaperingPractice Guidelines as TopicPsychotic DisordersHumansAntipsychotic Agentsdeprescribingguidelinespsychosisschizophreniatapering

Identifiers

PMID41148179
PMCPMC13645659

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.