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CNS Drugs
Published in: CNS Drugs 6/2007

01-06-2007 | Leading Article

Assessing the Role of Drugs in Suicidal Ideation and Suicidality

Authors: Dr David M. Reith, Liza Edmonds

Published in: CNS Drugs | Issue 6/2007

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Abstract

The emergence of suicidal ideation and suicide-related behaviour in patients receiving drug treatment is of concern because of the overall burden of these conditions and the possible link with completed suicide. Observational studies have been useful in generating hypotheses of causality but are confounded by the association between various disease states and increased suicide-related behaviour and completed suicide. The demonstration of causality requires experimental studies, especially randomised controlled trials, and meta-analyses. Unfortunately, the lack of uniform requirements for defining, detecting and recording suicidal ideation, suicide-related behaviour and completed suicide creates difficulties in comparing studies.
Nevertheless, there is evidence of an association between SSRIs and other newer antidepressant drugs and treatment-emergent suicidal ideation and suiciderelated behaviour in both children and adults; however, an increase in completed suicide as a result of treatment with SSRIs and other newer antidepressant drugs has not been demonstrated. Atomoxetine has also been associated with treatmentemergent suicidality, based on the results of a meta-analysis. Although similar associations have been proposed for some antiepileptic drugs, isotretinoin and interferon-α, they are yet to be supported by evidence from randomised controlled trials or meta-analyses.
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Metadata
Title
Assessing the Role of Drugs in Suicidal Ideation and Suicidality
Authors
Dr David M. Reith
Liza Edmonds
Publication date
01-06-2007
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
CNS Drugs / Issue 6/2007
Print ISSN: 1172-7047
Electronic ISSN: 1179-1934
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2165/00023210-200721060-00003

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