Suicide attempt risk among patients receiving methylphenidate: a retrospective cohort study

Methylphenidate may reduce suicide risk among patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Several studies have noted that the association between methylphenidate use and suicidality is weakening.

Data were collected from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database to assess the association between methylphenidate exposure and suicide attempt risk across two exposure periods (main analysis: 2001-2002; duplication analysis: 2004-2005). We compared suicide attempt risk between patients who initiated methylphenidate treatment and those with no recorded psychiatric treatment or methylphenidate exposure during the same period.

In both the main and duplication analyses, patients receiving methylphenidate exhibited a higher subsequent risk of suicide attempts than unexposed individuals. A duration-response pattern was observed in both cohorts: the hazard ratio of suicide attempts declined with longer cumulative methylphenidate use, from 1.60/1.84 for < 30 days to 1.45/1.65 for ≥ 180 days. Because hazard ratios were closely aligned across 2001-2002 and 2004-2005, the association of methylphenidate with reduced suicide attempt risk did not appear to decrease over time.

Longer use of methylphenidate was associated with a lower risk of subsequent suicide attempts among patients in Taiwan receiving methylphenidate. The beneficial effect of methylphenidate on suicide risk remained consistent over time.