Mind over medicine: expectations may drive antidepressant withdrawal
NCT ID NCT05191277
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at 56 adults with fully remitted depression who wanted to stop their antidepressant. Researchers wanted to see how much of the withdrawal symptoms are caused by the drug itself versus the person's expectations. Participants were randomly assigned to either stop or continue their medication, and some were told exactly what they were getting while others were kept uncertain. The goal is to better understand how to help people stop antidepressants more smoothly.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- antidepressant medication (SSRI/SNRI/NaSSA)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help doctors better manage antidepressant tapering by understanding how much of the withdrawal symptoms are due to expectations versus the drug itself.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed study (56 participants) focused on understanding mechanisms, not testing a new treatment. Results may not apply to all antidepressants or patient groups.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
Hamburg, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, 20251, Germany
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