Identifying priorities for future research on reducing and stopping psychiatric medication: results of a James Lind Alliance priority-setting partnership
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Authors
Boland, Miriam
Higgins, Agnès
Beecher, Claire
Bracken, Pat
Burn, Wendy
Cody, Anne
Framer, Adele
Gronlund, Toto
Horowitz, Mark
Huff, Christy
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Issue Date
05/11/2024
Type
Journal article
Language
Keywords
Mental Health
Alternative Title
Abstract
Description
Objective
The objective of this study is to identify the top 10 research priorities on reducing and stopping psychiatric medication that reflect the perspectives and unmet needs of three key stakeholder groups (people with lived experience, family members/carers/supporters and healthcare professionals).
Methods
A priority-setting partnership was conducted using the James Lind Alliance's seven-step process. This involved (1) creating an international Steering Group of key stakeholder representatives and (2) identifying potential partners; (3) gathering stakeholders' uncertainties about reducing and stopping psychiatric medication using an online survey and summarising the survey responses; (4) checking the summary questions against existing evidence and verifying uncertainties; (5) shortlisting the questions using a second online survey; (6) determining the top 10 research questions through a prioritisation workshop; and (7) disseminating the results.
Results
A total of 3635 questions were collected in the initial survey from 884 respondents of which 32 questions were verified as uncertainties. These questions were then ranked in a second online survey by 526 respondents and the findings discussed in a final prioritisation workshop by 30 participants to produce the final top 10 list of research questions. These questions cover a range of areas including the most effective ways of safely reducing/stopping psychiatric medication and providing support to individuals undergoing the discontinuation process, as well as the best ways to educate healthcare professionals on this topic.
Conclusion
The top 10 list of research priorities was produced through extensive engagement with key stakeholders and highlights important uncertainties and gaps in the existing evidence base that need to be addressed by future research.
Citation
BMJ Open 2024;14:e088266. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-088266
Publisher
License
Journal
BMJ Open
Volume
14
Issue
11