Navigating the Straits of Deprescribing: Psychiatrist's Personal Account of Fears and Hopes

Deprescribing is a long-overdue concept for psychiatrists and therapists, presenting potentially more sophisticated approaches to psychiatric care. This approach is fueled by both scientific pursuits and contemporary social ideologies that underscore the pivotal role of a patient's values and their freedom of choice. Indeed, deprescribing is well woven with modern liberal and progressive values. Yet, amidst the emphasis on these aspects, it is crucial not to lose sight of the "conservative" perspective within this discourse-one that emphasizes the potential consequences of failure. While constantly addressing relapse as a looming cloud may not yield benefits for patients, overlooking these potential pitfalls could tip the balance too far, resulting in unintended harm rather than good. Impact and Implications The trickling of the deprescribing concept into the clinical field may yield enormous benefits and aligns well with the modern medical ideal of patient autonomy. However, to avoid eroding the fundamental principle of beneficence, we should not overlook the potential harms that might ensue. In this personal account, I wish to underscore the importance of maintaining a dialectical tension between these two views, to safely sail through the straits of deprescribing.