Antidepressant treatment is associated with a reduction in suicidal ideation and suicide attempts

Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2008 Aug;118(2):116-22. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2008.01179.x. Epub 2008 Mar 31.

Abstract

Objective: To measure changes in suicidal behaviours during 6 months of treatment with antidepressants.

Method: A group of depressed patients (n = 195) were assessed for suicidal behaviours in the 6 months prior to treatment. They were prospectively assessed for suicidal behaviours during 6 months of treatment with antidepressants.

Results: Patients who made suicide attempts fell from 39 in the 6 months prior to treatment to 20 during treatment. Significant suicidal ideation reduced from 47% at baseline to 14% at 3 weeks remaining below this during the rest of the treatment. Twenty patients had emergent suicidal ideation; five of them had not experienced some level of suicidal behaviour in the 6 months prior to treatment.

Conclusion: Suicide behaviours are common in depressed out-patients. Antidepressant treatment is associated with a rapid and significant reduction in suicidal behaviours. The rate of emergent suicidal behaviour was low and the risk benefit ratio for antidepressants appears to favour their use.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / therapeutic use
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / therapeutic use
  • Depressive Disorder / drug therapy*
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Female
  • Fluoxetine / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nortriptyline / therapeutic use
  • Prospective Studies
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / statistics & numerical data
  • Suicide / psychology*
  • Suicide / statistics & numerical data*
  • Suicide Prevention
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
  • Fluoxetine
  • Nortriptyline