Suicides are seldom prescribed antidepressants: findings from a prospective prescription database in Jämtland county, Sweden, 1985-95.
OBJECTIVE
This study presents data relating to prospectively monitored treatment and post-mortem toxicology of individuals who committed suicide.


METHODS
A case-control study of prospectively monitored pharmacological treatment in suicides and controls. Psychiatric records and post-mortem toxicology were also studied.


RESULTS
Fifty-nine subjects who committed suicide purchased twice the number of prescriptions as the 118 controls. Sixteen cases received psychiatric in-patient care compared to four of the controls. In the last 3 months prior to suicide, 38 cases (64%) were dispensed drugs: anxiolytics-hypnotics in 17 cases (29%), antipsychotics in six cases (10%) and antidepressants in seven cases (12%). More psychiatrists than GPs prescribed antidepressants. About one-third of psychotropic drugs were retrieved in post-mortem toxicology.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a frequent use of psychotropics and psychiatric care among suicides; however, few used antidepressants and complied. Many suicides are still misdiagnosed and are not adequately treated.
Henriksson
S
S
NEUROTEC, Division of Psychiatry, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden.
Boëthius
G
G
Isacsson
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs