A study from Finland suggests that antidepressants may increase the risk of suicide attempts

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Suicidal people on antidepressants are more likely to make additional suicide attempts, but are less likely to die of suicide or any other cause.
Depression is a major risk factor for suicide. Therefore many suicidal individuals could be on antidepressants. However, previous research has linked certain antidepressants to an increased risk of suicidal attempts and behavior, particularly among children. In a new study, researchers in Finland sought to clarify this issue.

They looked at data on all individuals who had been hospitalized for suicide attempts in Finland between 1997 and 2003. They followed the 15,390 patients to see if they tried suicide again, completed suicide or died of some other cause. The risk of completed suicide was nine per cent lower among those on antidepressants of any time. The size of the reduced risk varied with the nature of the antidepressant. The risk of death from any cause was also lower.

But patients on antidepressants also had a 36 per cent increased risk of a subsequent suicide attempt, compared to those not on antidepressants. The researchers believe that the trends can be explained by a shift towards use of antidepressants and other drugs as a suicide method and away from more fatal methods such as hanging and shooting.

Source
Archives of General Psychiatry December 2006 Volume 63 pages 1358-1367

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