Antipsychotic discontinuation and reduction in people with schizophrenia and multiple-episode psychosis: the RADAR mixed-methods research programme including RCT (Cooper, 2026)
Moncrieff J; Long M; Priebe S; Akther-Robertson J; Barnes T; Bray G; Cooper R; Crellin N; Darton K; Freemantle N; Freudenthal R; Gkofa V; Grunwald L; Haime Z; Haynes N; Horne R; Horowitz M; Hunter R; Johnson S; Kent L; Lewis G; Marston L; Morant N; Pinfold V; Ramsay G; Smith R; Stansfeld J; Stockmann T; Vickerstaff V
National Institute for Health and Care Research. Programme Grants for Applied Research 2026 04.
Antipsychotic medication is beneficial for people with psychosis or schizophrenia in the short term, but the balance of risks and benefits in the long term is less clear. Many patients remain functionally impaired, experience significant and distressing side effects and physical health problems. Evidence in people with first episode psychosis suggests that social functioning may be improved for some patients following a gradual reduction or discontinuation of antipsychotics, but there is no evidence in people with recurrent conditions.