Citation

Didham RC, McConnell DW, Blair HJ, Reith DM. Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 2005; 60(5): 519-525.

Affiliation

Research Unit, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1365-2125.2005.02480.x

PMID

16236042

PMCID

PMC1884935

Abstract

Aim: To identify the incidence and risk of suicide and self harm, among patients prescribed antidepressant drugs. Methods: A retrospective cohort study, with nested case control, of patients identified from a nonrandom sample of general practices in New Zealand from 1996 to 2001. A total of 57 361 patients who received a prescription for a single antidepressant were identified from the RNZCGP Research Unit Database. Suicides within 120 days of a prescription were identified from the New Zealand National Mortality Database and self-harm events within 120 days of a prescription were identified from the New Zealand Hospital discharge database. Results: 26 suicides and 330 episodes of self-harm were identified within 120 days of an antidepressant prescription. On univariate analysis the association, expressed as OR (95% CI), between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and self harm and suicide were 2.26 (1.27-4.76) and 1.92 (0.77-4.83), respectively. When corrected for the confounding effects of age, gender and depression/suicidal ideation there was an association between SSRIs and self harm, OR 1.66 (95% CI 1.23-2.23), but not for suicide, 1.28 (0.38-4.35). Paroxetine was a significant risk factor for suicide on univariate analysis, 4.23 (1.19-14.95), but not when corrected for age, gender and depression/suicidal ideation, 2.76 (0.30-24.87). Conclusions: Age, gender and pre-existing depression/suicidal ideation are important confounders in observational studies of the association between antidepressants and suicide or self harm.