title: Use of antidepressants in deliberate self-poisoning: psychiatric diagnoses and drugs used between 1987 and 1997 in Lund, Sweden.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Based on the increased prescription of antidepressants, the aim of this study was to analyse the changes in self-poisonings with antidepressants during the period 1987-1997.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 909 patients who were admitted to hospital after deliberate self-poisoning were investigated regarding psychiatric diagnoses and drugs ingested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the whole group, there was no significant change in the rate of antidepressant overdoses between 1987 and 1990 (20%) and 1995 and 1997 (17 %), but among females with a mood disorder overdoses decreased from 43% to 22% (p = 0.01). The proportion of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in self-poisonings was significantly lower than expected from sales figures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increased antidepressant sales have not caused an increased use of antidepressants in self-poisonings. It is, therefore, tempting to assume that an increased use of antidepressants for appropriate indications causes decreased self-poisoning rates.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychiatry, University Hospital, 22185, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jakob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bäckman
authors.forename: Carl-Johan
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Ekman
authors.forename: Margot
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alsén
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ekedahl
authors.forename: Lil
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Träskman-Bendz
mesh_terms: D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D003422:Critical Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents