A new commentary published in the Journal of the American Medical Association examines claims by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that psychiatric medications are overprescribed.
The piece by Rita Rubin, MA, titled “HHS Says Psychiatric Medications Are Overprescribed, but Are They?” appears online in JAMA on June 26, 2026. It discusses HHS efforts under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to address what officials call overreliance on these drugs, particularly among children.
HHS launched its MAHA Action Plan in May 2026 to curb psychiatric overprescribing. Officials emphasize prevention, informed consent, shared decision-making, and greater use of non-medication approaches such as psychotherapy, family support, nutrition, and physical activity.
What the JAMA Commentary Examines
Rubin explores the tension at the heart of the HHS initiative. She notes that while HHS officials, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., argue that psychiatric medications — particularly antidepressants and antipsychotics — are overprescribed, especially among children and adolescents, many clinicians and researchers caution that mental health needs remain substantial and that reducing medication use carries its own risks.
The piece notes that prescription rates for these medications have risen significantly in recent years, prompting questions about whether some patients receive long-term treatment for symptoms that might respond to non-drug interventions. At the same time, Rubin reports that experts emphasize depression and other mental health conditions continue to rank among the leading causes of disability worldwide, and that access to alternative treatments such as psychotherapy can be limited.
Rubin presents viewpoints from both sides without endorsing a definitive conclusion. She references concerns about potential side effects, limited long-term safety data in younger populations, and the challenges of deprescribing, while also noting cases where medications provide clear benefits and that underprescribing can leave patients without adequate support.
Background on the HHS Initiative
On May 4, 2026, HHS announced the plan at a MAHA Institute summit.
Secretary Kennedy stated at the time, “Today, we take clear and decisive action to confront our nation’s mental health crisis by addressing the overuse of psychiatric medications—especially among children. We will support patient autonomy, require informed consent and shared decision-making, and shift the standard of care toward prevention, transparency, and a more holistic approach to mental health.”
The plan includes evaluating prescription patterns, benefits, and potential harms. It promotes deprescribing—tapering or discontinuing medications when they no longer provide clinical benefit.
A Dear Colleague Letter from HHS agencies encourages providers to prioritize non-medication treatments when appropriate and outlines billing for such services.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance on reimbursing deprescribing services under Medicare. Upcoming steps include SAMHSA reports on prescribing trends, educational webinars, a Technical Expert Panel in July, and research by NIH and FDA into innovative treatments.
Context and Data on Psychiatric Medication Use
Psychiatric medications, including antidepressants and antipsychotics, are widely prescribed in the United States. Concerns about overprescribing focus on cases where symptoms may not warrant long-term drug therapy, potential side effects, and limited long-term data for some populations, especially youth.
Expert consensus from the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology, published earlier in 2026 in JAMA Network Open, provides recommendations for deprescribing psychotropic medications. It stresses periodic reassessment, patient involvement, and close monitoring during tapering.
The JAMA commentary weighs these efforts against ongoing mental health needs. Depression remains a leading cause of disability, and access to care varies.
Some experts note risks of both overprescribing and underprescribing.
Potential Impact
The HHS initiatives could influence clinical practice nationwide.
Supporters argue that the focus on deprescribing and alternatives may reduce unnecessary exposure to medications with side effects and support more personalized care.
Critics caution that framing issues primarily as overmedicalization could overlook workforce shortages, barriers to psychotherapy, and individuals who benefit from medication.
For patients, the emphasis on informed consent and regular review aims to improve decision-making. HHS stresses that deprescribing should occur under medical supervision to avoid risks of abrupt discontinuation.
