ALT Antipsychotic discontinuation and reduction in people with schizophrenia and multiple-episode psychosis: the RADAR mixed-methods research programme including RCT by Joanna Moncrieff, Maria Long, Stefan Priebe, Johura Akther-Robertson,
Thomas Barnes, George Bray, Ruth Cooper, Nadia Crellin,
Katherine Darton, Nick Freemantle , Robert Freudenthal, Vasiliki Gkofa, Lisa Grünwald, Zoe Haime, Nadia Haynes, Robert Horne, Mark Horowitz, Rachael Hunter, Sonia Johnson, Lyn Kent, Glyn Lewis, Louise Marston, Nicola Morant, Vanessa Pinfold, Georgina Ramsay, Ruth Smith, Jacki Stansfeld, Tom Stockmann and Victoria Vickerstaff
ALT Abstract
Background: 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.
Objectives:
1. To assess patients’ attitudes to long-term use of antipsychotic medication (work package 1a).
2. To develop a gradual strategy of antipsychotic reduction and discontinuation and to design a trial to assess its benefits
and harms (work packages 1a and 1b).
3. To evaluate the antipsychotic reduction strategy in a randomised pilot trial (work package 2).
4. To conduct a full randomised trial (work package 3a) of the antip