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Antidepressant drugs and suicide
1Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program, Boston University Medical Center, Lexington, Massachusetts 02173-5207.
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
|August 1, 1992
Summary
This study estimated suicide rates in antidepressant drug users from UK and US populations. Findings indicate higher suicide rates in men and variations in firearm use by region.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacovigilance
- Epidemiology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Antidepressant medications are widely prescribed for depression.
- Understanding suicide risk associated with these drugs is crucial for patient safety.
- Population-based data can provide insights into real-world drug use and outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate and compare suicide rates among individuals using antidepressant drugs.
- To identify any variations in suicide rates related to specific antidepressant medications.
- To examine demographic and regional differences in suicide rates among antidepressant users.
Main Methods:
- Utilized two large, population-based datasets: UK general practitioners and Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound.
- Calculated suicide rates per person-years for ever-users of antidepressant drugs.
- Analyzed rates based on specific antidepressant drugs, gender, and geographical location.
Main Results:
- Overall suicide rates were 6.5 x 10(-4) person-years in the UK and 5.1 x 10(-4) person-years in the US.
- Suicide rates were consistently higher in men than in women across both populations.
- Mianserin showed a potentially higher rate of suicide, though based on limited cases.
Conclusions:
- Suicide rates among antidepressant users are relatively low but vary by population and gender.
- Geographical differences in suicide modes (firearms) were observed between the UK and the US.
- Further investigation into specific drug-related risks, like mianserin, may be warranted.