Effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on rating-scale-assessed suicidality in adults with depression

• Background Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been claimed to elicit or aggravate suicidal ideation. To explore the effect of SSRIs on the suicidality item of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD). We undertook a patient-level mega-analysis of adults with depression participating in industry-sponsored studies of sertraline, paroxetine or citalopram, comparing patients on an SSRI (n = 5681) with those on placebo (n = 2581) with respect to HRSD-rated suicidality. Separate analyses were conducted for young adults (age 18-24; n = 537) and adults (age = 25; n = 7725). Among adults, the reduction in mean rating of suicidality was larger and the risk for aggravation of suicidality lower in patients receiving an SSRI from week 1 and onwards. In young adults, SSRI treatment neither reduced nor increased suicidality ratings relative to placebo at the end-point. The net effect of SSRIs on suicidality appears beneficial in people above the age of 24 and neutral in those aged 18-24.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Psykiatri (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Psychiatry (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Geriatrik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Geriatrics (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Annan medicin och hälsovetenskap -- Övrig annan medicin och hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Other Medical and Health Sciences -- Other Medical and Health Sciences not elsewhere specified (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

randomized controlled-trials

antidepressant treatment

fluoxetine

treatment

placebo

risk

ideation

metaanalysis

rates

association

emergence

Psychiatry

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)