“I want to live life, not just be in it!”: a qualitative study on existential aspects of choosing to reduce or stop psychotropic medication

PURPOSE: While psychotropic medication is commonly used to treat severe mental illnesses, some patients perceive it as a barrier to meaningful aspects of their lives, motivating them to reduce or stop taking it. This qualitative study aims to contribute to the existential understanding of the choice to taper psychotropic medication. METHODS: An existential phenomenological method was employed, investigating and analyzing the lived experiences of 15 individuals in Norway in relation to their choice to taper their psychotropic medication with professional support. RESULTS: A drive towards existential health was identified, expressed through four types of quests: 1) the quest for a meaningful daily life, 2) the quest for a true self, 3) the quest for a deep sense of belonging with others, and 4) the quest to integrate spirituality in life. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the choice to reduce or stop taking psychotropic medication may encompass complex, existential dimensions beyond symptom management, affecting fundamental life aspects. For mental health professionals, these findings emphasize the importance of understanding these dimensions to better support individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness in their medication decisions and tapering processes.