FINISH: Remembering the Discontinuation Syndrome

Sir: The recent article by Schatzberg et al. helps physicians increase their awareness of the discontinuation syndrome that may occur when patients stop taking their antidepressants. It is now clear that many physicians are unaware of the existence of antidepressant withdrawal symptoms and that education is needed for both psychiatrists and family practice physicians. In order to improve recognition of the symptom clusters that constitute the discontinuation syndrome, I have introduced the mnemonic FINISH, indicating the symptoms that may occur when patients "finish" their course of antidepressants.