title: Unraveling the association between SSRI use and falls: an experimental study of risk factors for accidental falls in long-term paroxetine users.
abstract: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are widely used to treat depression and are also associated with an increased falls risk. However, the biological mechanism underlying accidental falls with SSRI intake has yet to be elucidated. The present experimental study was designed to investigate whether obstacle avoidance skills in long-term (>90 days), senior paroxetine users (61 ± 5.8 years) are affected during gait, simple and challenging postural balance tasks, as well as during manual reaction time tasks. The performance of the paroxetine users was compared with healthy group-matched controls (60 ± 4.8 years). The results demonstrated impaired postural balance in the paroxetine users, especially during one-legged stance or under various dual-task conditions. Although the deficit in one-legged stance could indicate vestibular involvement, this was deemed unlikely because performance of standing on compliant surface with closed eyes remained unaffected. Paroxetine use also failed to affect manual reaction times or obstacle avoidance performance. It is suggested that paroxetine affects attentional capacities particularly in conjunction with balance control. Compared with healthy seniors, long-term senior users of paroxetine seem to be at an increased risk of falling due to impairments in balance control, especially when attention has to be divided between 2 concurrent activities.
authors: Department of Research, Development and Education, St. Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. j.hegeman@maartenskliniek.nl
authors: Judith
authors: J
authors: Hegeman
authors: Bart
authors: B
authors: van den Bemt
authors: Vivian
authors: V
authors: Weerdesteyn
authors: Bart
authors: B
authors: Nienhuis
authors: Jacques
authors: J
authors: van Limbeek
authors: Jacques
authors: J
authors: Duysens
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors