SSRI use associated with 2.2 times greater risk of attempted suicide in the elderly

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Saturday, December 31, 2016 11:20 am Email this article

People over the age of 65 taking a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) were 2.2 times more likely to attempt suicide or self harm during the study period compared to when antidepressants were not being used according to a 2011 study from the U.K.

Subjects

Subjects: 60,746 patients, 65- to 100-years-old

The study included 60,746 patients from 570 general practices in the United Kingdom diagnosed as having a new episode of depression between the ages of 65 and 100 years from 1 January 1996 to 31 December 2007 and followed up until 31 December 2008.

Reference

Coupland C, Dhiman P, Morriss R, Arthur A, Barton G, and Hippisley-Cox J. Antidepressant use and risk of adverse outcomes in older people: population based cohort study. BMJ, 2011 Aug 02; 343: d4551.

Author’s Contact Info

Carol Coupland
Division of Primary Care
School of Medicine
University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
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