Antidepressants and the risk of suicide in young persons - prescription trends and toxicological analyses

Résumé

textbfOBJECTIVE: To assess trends in the use of antidepressants among young suicides after the warning that these drugs might increase the risk of suicide. textbfMETHOD: Individual data of all 845 suicides in the 10- to 19-year age group in Sweden in the time period 1992-2003 (baseline), and in 2004-2010 (after the warning). Outcome data are prescriptions of antidepressants prior to death and detections of antidepressants in post-mortem toxicology. textbfRESULTS: After the warning, suicide in this age group increased for five consecutive years (60.5%). The increase occurred among individuals not treated with antidepressants. textbfCONCLUSION: This study provides further support for the hypothesis that the warning, contrary to its intention, may have increased young suicides by leaving a number of suicidal young persons without treatment with antidepressants. SUÈDE EUROPE ENFANT ADOLESCENT SUICIDE-COMPLÉTÉ PHARMACOTHÉRAPIE MÉDICAMENT EFFICACITÉ FACTEUR-RISQUE TOXICOLOGIE PRÉVALENCE TENDANCE