Violent suicides are distinctly more common in month after starting SSRI's

[Guest guest]

Raised suicide risk 'should not anathematize SSRIs'

Source: Am J Psych 2006; 163: 813–821

8 May 2006

Violent suicides are " distinctly more common " in the first month

after starting treatment with selective serotonin reuptake

inhibitors (SSRIs) compared with other antidepressants, research in

an elderly population has found.

However the absolute risk of completed suicides was low, leading the

study authors to conclude that an idiosyncratic response to SSRIs

may provoke suicide in a vulnerable subgroup of patients.

Against a background of widespread public concern over the potential

for SSRIs to precipitate suicidal ideation, Juurlink

(University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada) and team matched population-

based coroner's records with patient-level data.

The team focused on individuals aged 66 years and over, as no

studies to date have addressed risk in the elderly despite their

high rates of antidepressant use.

Juurlink and colleagues analyzed prescription data, billing claims,

and hospitalization records from more than 1,200 million Ontario

residents. Each suicide case was closely matched with four

comparison subjects using propensity scoring, which takes into

account demographic, medical, psychiatric, and other characteristics.

Their results, which appear in the American Journal of Psychiatry,

found that during the first month of therapy, SSRIs were associated

with a nearly five-fold higher risk of completed suicides than other

antidepressants.

Importantly, the increased risk was independent of receipt of a

diagnosis of depression or psychiatric care, and related only to

suicides of a violent nature.

The absolute risks were small, however, at one in 3,353 SSRI-treated

patients versus one in 16,037 patients receiving other

antidepressants, and the authors point out that many suicides

occurring during the first month of treatment likely result from

depression itself rather than a treatment effect.

Noting that the actual risk of suicide due to antidepressant therapy

is probably far lower, they conclude: " Our findings should not serve

to anathematize SSRIs as a class, since they represent an important

therapeutic option for patients with depression. "

Source: Am J Psych 2006; 163: 813–821

©2006 Current Medicine Group Ltd

[Guest guest]

Raised suicide risk 'should not anathematize SSRIs'

Source: Am J Psych 2006; 163: 813–821

8 May 2006

Violent suicides are " distinctly more common " in the first month

after starting treatment with selective serotonin reuptake

inhibitors (SSRIs) compared with other antidepressants, research in

an elderly population has found.

However the absolute risk of completed suicides was low, leading the

study authors to conclude that an idiosyncratic response to SSRIs

may provoke suicide in a vulnerable subgroup of patients.

Against a background of widespread public concern over the potential

for SSRIs to precipitate suicidal ideation, Juurlink

(University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada) and team matched population-

based coroner's records with patient-level data.

The team focused on individuals aged 66 years and over, as no

studies to date have addressed risk in the elderly despite their

high rates of antidepressant use.

Juurlink and colleagues analyzed prescription data, billing claims,

and hospitalization records from more than 1,200 million Ontario

residents. Each suicide case was closely matched with four

comparison subjects using propensity scoring, which takes into

account demographic, medical, psychiatric, and other characteristics.

Their results, which appear in the American Journal of Psychiatry,

found that during the first month of therapy, SSRIs were associated

with a nearly five-fold higher risk of completed suicides than other

antidepressants.

Importantly, the increased risk was independent of receipt of a

diagnosis of depression or psychiatric care, and related only to

suicides of a violent nature.

The absolute risks were small, however, at one in 3,353 SSRI-treated

patients versus one in 16,037 patients receiving other

antidepressants, and the authors point out that many suicides

occurring during the first month of treatment likely result from

depression itself rather than a treatment effect.

Noting that the actual risk of suicide due to antidepressant therapy

is probably far lower, they conclude: " Our findings should not serve

to anathematize SSRIs as a class, since they represent an important

therapeutic option for patients with depression. "

Source: Am J Psych 2006; 163: 813–821

©2006 Current Medicine Group Ltd

[Guest guest]

Raised suicide risk 'should not anathematize SSRIs'

Source: Am J Psych 2006; 163: 813–821

8 May 2006

Violent suicides are " distinctly more common " in the first month

after starting treatment with selective serotonin reuptake

inhibitors (SSRIs) compared with other antidepressants, research in

an elderly population has found.

However the absolute risk of completed suicides was low, leading the

study authors to conclude that an idiosyncratic response to SSRIs

may provoke suicide in a vulnerable subgroup of patients.

Against a background of widespread public concern over the potential

for SSRIs to precipitate suicidal ideation, Juurlink

(University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada) and team matched population-

based coroner's records with patient-level data.

The team focused on individuals aged 66 years and over, as no

studies to date have addressed risk in the elderly despite their

high rates of antidepressant use.

Juurlink and colleagues analyzed prescription data, billing claims,

and hospitalization records from more than 1,200 million Ontario

residents. Each suicide case was closely matched with four

comparison subjects using propensity scoring, which takes into

account demographic, medical, psychiatric, and other characteristics.

Their results, which appear in the American Journal of Psychiatry,

found that during the first month of therapy, SSRIs were associated

with a nearly five-fold higher risk of completed suicides than other

antidepressants.

Importantly, the increased risk was independent of receipt of a

diagnosis of depression or psychiatric care, and related only to

suicides of a violent nature.

The absolute risks were small, however, at one in 3,353 SSRI-treated

patients versus one in 16,037 patients receiving other

antidepressants, and the authors point out that many suicides

occurring during the first month of treatment likely result from

depression itself rather than a treatment effect.

Noting that the actual risk of suicide due to antidepressant therapy

is probably far lower, they conclude: " Our findings should not serve

to anathematize SSRIs as a class, since they represent an important

therapeutic option for patients with depression. "

Source: Am J Psych 2006; 163: 813–821

©2006 Current Medicine Group Ltd

[Guest guest]

Raised suicide risk 'should not anathematize SSRIs'

Source: Am J Psych 2006; 163: 813–821

8 May 2006

Violent suicides are " distinctly more common " in the first month

after starting treatment with selective serotonin reuptake

inhibitors (SSRIs) compared with other antidepressants, research in

an elderly population has found.

However the absolute risk of completed suicides was low, leading the

study authors to conclude that an idiosyncratic response to SSRIs

may provoke suicide in a vulnerable subgroup of patients.

Against a background of widespread public concern over the potential

for SSRIs to precipitate suicidal ideation, Juurlink

(University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada) and team matched population-

based coroner's records with patient-level data.

The team focused on individuals aged 66 years and over, as no

studies to date have addressed risk in the elderly despite their

high rates of antidepressant use.

Juurlink and colleagues analyzed prescription data, billing claims,

and hospitalization records from more than 1,200 million Ontario

residents. Each suicide case was closely matched with four

comparison subjects using propensity scoring, which takes into

account demographic, medical, psychiatric, and other characteristics.

Their results, which appear in the American Journal of Psychiatry,

found that during the first month of therapy, SSRIs were associated

with a nearly five-fold higher risk of completed suicides than other

antidepressants.

Importantly, the increased risk was independent of receipt of a

diagnosis of depression or psychiatric care, and related only to

suicides of a violent nature.

The absolute risks were small, however, at one in 3,353 SSRI-treated

patients versus one in 16,037 patients receiving other

antidepressants, and the authors point out that many suicides

occurring during the first month of treatment likely result from

depression itself rather than a treatment effect.

Noting that the actual risk of suicide due to antidepressant therapy

is probably far lower, they conclude: " Our findings should not serve

to anathematize SSRIs as a class, since they represent an important

therapeutic option for patients with depression. "

Source: Am J Psych 2006; 163: 813–821

©2006 Current Medicine Group Ltd