Association between antidepressant prescribing and suicide in Australia, 1991-2000: trend analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between trends in antidepressant prescribing and suicide rates in Australia for 1991-2000.


METHODS
Analysis of databases of suicide and rates of antidepressant prescribing according to age and sex.


METHODS
Australian Bureau of Statistics data, sales data from the Australian pharmaceutical industry, prescribing data in general practice.


METHODS
Men and women aged 15 years and over in 10 year age groups.


METHODS
Trends in suicide rates and trends in antidepressant prescribing. Association measured by Spearman's rank correlations.


RESULTS
While overall national rates of suicide did not fall significantly, incidence decreased in older men and women and increased in younger adults. In both men (r(s)=-0.91; P<0.01) and women (r(s)=-0.76; P<0.05) the higher the exposure to antidepressants the larger the decline in rate of suicide.


CONCLUSIONS
Changes in suicide rates and exposure to antidepressants in Australia for 1991-2000 are significantly associated. This effect is most apparent in older age groups, in which rates of suicide decreased substantially in association with exposure to antidepressants. The increase in antidepressant prescribing may be a proxy marker for improved overall management of depression. If so, increased prescribing of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in general practice may have produced a quantifiable benefit in population mental health.
Office of Public Policy and Ethics, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
Wayne D
WD
Hall
Andrea
A
Mant
Philip B
PB
Mitchell
Valerie A
VA
Rendle
Ian B
IB
Hickie
Peter
P
McManus
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends
D000928:Antidepressive Agents