RESEARCHERS at the University of South Australia (UniSA) have developed new machine learning models to help clinicians identify when patients can successfully stop using long-term antidepressants.

Using artificial intelligence (AI) to track dispensing data from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), the team identified the most successful cases of deprescription among 100,000 patients who were prescribed antidepressants over a 10-year period.

“Healthcare providers are often reluctant to cease antidepressant prescriptions due to their concerns about withdrawal effects, making it difficult for doctors to know who can safely discontinue treatment,” said study lead Dr Lasantha Ranwala.

The researchers said the findings could give clinicians a useful decision-support tool to help them initiate antidepressant deprescription.

Access the study HERE.

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