Australians add to SSRI-suicide debate

Australian researchers have found no evidence that serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) increase the risk of suicide, but stress that physicians still need to use their clinical judgement when prescribing them. Of more than 550 adults (aged 16-85) with symptoms of an affective disorder within the previous 12 months, the researchers found that those who had used SSRIs within the previous two weeks -or for any duration – were not more likely than non-users to have suicidal thoughts or behaviour. Those who used SSRIs for more than five months were also no more likely to have seriously thought about suicide, made a suicide plan or made a suicide attempt. In their letter to the editor, published in the MJA, the researchers from the Universities of Melbourne, Queensland and Sydney said their findings were in line with two recent systematic reviews. They also noted that their findings add to the other studies because their research considered a fuller range of suicidal thoughts and behaviour. “Its cross-sectional nature also increased the likelihood that SSRI use occurred first,” they said. “Our findings support the contention that SSRI use in adults with affective disorders is not associated with suicide risk. Nonetheless, clinical judgement is required in prescribing SSRIs,” they concluded. MJA 2010; 192 (1): 53...