A new study published in the Australian Journal of General Practice suggests that prolonged antidepressant use offers limited benefits and poses significant health risks, including sexual dysfunction, emotional numbing, cognitive impairment, and weight gain. Researchers, including psychiatrist Mark Horowitz from Adelaide University, argue that many perceived "relapses" after discontinuing antidepressants may actually be severe withdrawal symptoms, as current relapse prevention trials often fail to distinguish between the two. The study highlights that even short-term trials show only marginal improvements over placebos and calls for an update to clinical guidelines to reflect the lack of robust evidence for long-term antidepressant effectiveness. Experts emphasize the need for clinicians to review antidepressant treatments every six months and support patients in making informed decisions about stopping medication, ideally by gradually decreasing the dose.