Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and risk of suicide: a systematic review of observational studies.
BACKGROUND
It is unclear whether the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other antidepressant drugs reduce the risk of suicide in people with depression. We explored the association between exposure to SSRIs and risk of suicide completion or attempt.


METHODS
We conducted a systematic review of observational studies that reported completed or attempted suicide in depressed individuals who were exposed to SSRIs compared with those who were not exposed to antidepressants. We assessed the overall risk of completed or attempted suicide.


RESULTS
Eight studies involving more than 200 000 patients with moderate or severe depression were included in the meta-analysis. Although exposure to SSRIs increased the risk of completed or attempted suicide among adolescents (odds ratio [OR] 1.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.51-2.44), the risk was decreased among adults (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.47-0.70). Among people aged 65 or more years, exposure to SSRIs had a protective effect (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.27-0.79). Sensitivity analyses did not change these findings. In particular, for studies that used completed suicide as an outcome, exposure to SSRIs was associated with increased risk among adolescents (OR 5.81, 95% CI 1.57-21.51) and decreased risk among adults (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.52-0.83) and older people (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.26-1.06).


CONCLUSIONS
Based on data from observational studies, use of SSRIs may be associated with a reduced risk of suicide in adults with depression. Among adolescents, use of SSRIs may increase suicidality.
Barbui
Corrado
C
World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health, Department of Medicine and Public Health, Section of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Esposito
Eleonora
E
Cipriani
Andrea
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000367:Age Factors; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013405:Suicide
D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors