Citation

Pompili M, Tatarelli R, Girardi P, Tondo L, Baldessarini RJ. Pharmacoepidemiol. Drug Saf. 2010; 19(5): 525-528.

Affiliation

Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. maurizio.pompili@uniroma1.it

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/pds.1936

PMID

20437459

Abstract

Recent research findings suggest possible increases in risk of suicidal behaviors among patients treated with anticonvulsants. The available evidence appears to support such a risk more clearly for patients diagnosed with epilepsy rather than with primary psychiatric disorders. However, the studies involved are limited by providing associational findings that may be confounded by several uncontrolled variables. Such limitations should be considered in future research on adverse effects of anticonvulsants and other centrally acting drugs. For now, however, clinical prudence calls for routine, ongoing assessment of mood and suicidal thoughts among neurological or psychiatric patients, whether or not treated with particular drugs.

Language: en