Antidepressant treatment is associated with a reduction in suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.
OBJECTIVE
To measure changes in suicidal behaviours during 6 months of treatment with antidepressants.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Mulder
R T
RT
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand. roger.mulder@otago.ac.nz
Joyce
P R
PR
Frampton
C M A
CM
Luty
S E
SE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D005473:Fluoxetine; D009661:Nortriptyline