E287 - Deprescribing Practices in Psychiatry with Drs. Stephen Stahl and Jeffrey Strawn

In this episode, Dr. Andy Cutler is joined by Drs. Stephen Stahl and Jeffrey Strawn to discuss deprescribing practices in psychiatry. They explore why deprescribing is an essential clinical skill, how to determine whether a patient still needs a medication, dose, or combination, and how to approach tapering in a way that balances relapse prevention, withdrawal risk, and patient-centered care. The conversation also covers practical considerations for deprescribing antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and sedative-hypnotics, with attention to common pitfalls and strategies for safer, more intentional medication management.  Stephen M. Stahl, MD, PhD, DSc (Hon.), is a psychiatrist, psychopharmacologist, and internationally recognized educator in clinical neuroscience and psychopharmacology. He is the author of widely used educational resources including Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology, Stahl's Prescriber's Guide, and Stahl's Deprescriber's Guide, and his work focuses on translating complex neurobiology into practical clinical concepts for mental health clinicians.  Jeffrey R. Strawn, MD, FAACAP, is a Professor of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Clinical & Translational Pharmacology at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio. He is Director of the UC Anxiety Disorders Research Program and Associate Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience at UC, and he is the author of Stahl's Deprescriber's Guide.  Andrew J. Cutler, MD, is a distinguished psychiatrist and researcher with extensive experience in clinical trials and psychopharmacology. He currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Neuroscience Education Institute and EMA Wellness. He is a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York.  Resources  Strawn, JR, Stahl SM. Stahl's Deprescriber's Guide. Cambridge University Press; 2026. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009642187  Fall Congress   Get $100 off NEI Fall Congress registration with code POD26. Go to https://nei.global/fall to sign up today!   Membership  As a valued NEI Podcast listener, Dr. Cutler's offering you 20% off new NEI Membership with code CUTLER20. Go to https://nei.global/member and join now!  Never miss an episode!🎙SUBSCRIBE to the NEI Podcast – available on all your favorite platforms: https://nei.global/podcast  Interested in Psychopharmacology? Learn about the NEI Master Psychopharmacology Program: https://nei.global/mpp   Stay updated with email alerts and join our conversations on social. Follow us on:  YouTube: https://nei.global/youtube  Instagram: https://nei.global/instagram  LinkedIn: https://nei.global/linkedin  Facebook: https://nei.global/facebook  X: https://nei.global/twitter