The First Panel of Psychiatric Experts Weighs in on Deprescribing at ASCP 2026

BRAIN TRUST: CONVERSATIONS IN PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY

-Series Editor Joseph F. Goldberg, MD

Joseph F. Goldberg, MD, in this special installment of "Brain Trust: Conversations in Psychopharmacology," sat down with a panel of experts from the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology Annual Meeting (ASCP) Deprescribing Task Force while in attendance at the 2026 ASCP Annual Meeting in Miami, FL.

In the wake of the MAHA Institute summit on mental health on May 4, 2026, and the plans to curb “psychiatric overprescribing,” the ASCP released deprescribing recommendations for psychiatrists and practicing mental health clinicians.^1,2

Goldberg has been very passionate in speaking about proper and appropriate deprescribing, as evidenced by his May 2025 cover for Psychiatric Times: “Deprescribing: Does the Term Belong in the Psychiatric Lexicon?”

In this discussion, the panel explained the importance of deprescribing in the national dialogue and debate, and emphasized the need for judicious, thoughtful, supervised, purposeful, intentional, clinically-indicated decision making by clinicians.

David W. Goodman, MD, highlighted the lack of understanding among a broad range of prescribers with varying degrees of training and background, leading to inaccurate diagnoses and inappropriate prescriptions.

Roger S. McIntyre, MD, FRCPC, emphasized the supply and demand mismatch in mental health services, noting the explosion in demand and the lack of quality healthcare supply.

Rajnish Mago, MD, added that the difficulty in deprescribing is due to the complexity of managing multiple medications and the reluctance of patients, families, and doctors to change treatments.

Anita Clayton, MD, pointed out that most psychiatric medications are prescribed by primary care providers who lack the opportunity to follow patients closely and adjust medications as needed.

Leslie L. Citrome, MD, MPH, discussed the challenges of deprescribing in primary care settings, where time limitations and lack of measurement-based care hinder effective treatment.

Holly A. Swartz, MD, emphasized the importance of patient-clinician communication and the need for alternatives to medications, such as psychotherapy and lifestyle changes.

Mauricio Tohen, MD, suggested that the FDA should require tapering studies for new drugs to ensure appropriate deprescribing practices.

Swartz and Citrome highlighted the importance of screening tools and systematic reassessment in deprescribing.

Collectively, the group discussed practical approaches to deprescribing, including starting discussions with patients and prioritizing medications based on their impact.

Dr Goldberg is a clinical professor of psychiatry at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, NY and the immediate-past president of the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology.

Dr McIntyre is a professor of psychiatry and pharmacology at the University of Toronto and head of the Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit at the University Health Network in Toronto, Canada. He is also the executive director of the Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation and director and cochair of the scientific advisory board of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. He is a professor and Nanshan Scholar at Guangzhou Medical University in China, an adjunct professor at Korea University College of Medicine in Seoul, a clinical professor at the State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, and a clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences at the University of California Riverside School of Medicine. He is the founder of the Canadian Rapid Treatment Centre of Excellence and CEO of Braxia Scientific Corp.

Dr Mago is the director of the psychopharmacology curriculum for the Penn Psychiatry Residency Program at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. He also teaches psychiatry residents at the SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. He is the chair of the education committees for both the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society and the Philadelphia Psychiatric Society.

Dr Clayton is chair of psychiatry and neurobehavioral sciences and professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Virginia. She is also current president of the American Society for Clinical Psychopharmacology.

Dr Swartz is a professor of psychiatry and the director of the Center for Advanced Psychotherapy at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Dr Goodman is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and a clinical associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Norton College of Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University. He is also the founder of the nonprofit charity, My ADHD Foundation.

Dr Citrome is a clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at New York Medical College. He is a distinguished life fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a fellow of the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology, where he currently serves as immediate past president. He is also currently a consultant in clinical trial design and interpretation.

Dr Tohen is a university distinguished professor and chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico Health Science Center, in Albuquerque NM.

References

1. Goldberg JF, McIntyre RS, Swartz HA, et al. Recommendations for the deprescribing of psychotropic medications: a consensus statement from the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology Task Force. JAMA Netw Open. 2026;9(2):e260043.

2. Goldberg JF. Deprescribing: recommendations from the ASCP Task Force. Psychiatric Times. March 20, 2026. https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/deprescribing-recommendations-from-the-ascp-task-force