Citation

Healy D. Br. Med. J. BMJ 2005; 330(7500): 1148; author reply 1148-9.

Affiliation

North Wales Department of Psycholigical Medicine, Bangor, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bmj.330.7500.1148-a

PMID

15891235

PMCID

PMC557940

Abstract

Gunnell et al offer figures for suicide with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).  However, in the expert working group's report on SSRIs, the table for citalopram indicates no suicide in the placebo group. Data on paroxetine are not available from the report, but prior submissions indicate four suicides with paroxetine (CSM Expert Working Group on the Safety of SSRIs, unpublished data, 2003). Gunnell et al note three suicides in the placebo group during the withdrawal phase, but a 1991 review of the safety of paroxetine does not indicate that these happened in the withdrawal phase of placebo controlled trials.