Antidepressant treatment and the risk of fatal and non-fatal self harm in first episode depression: nested case-control study
BMJPublished 17 February 2005Open access
Carlos Martínez, Stephan Rietbrock, Lesley Wise, Deborah Ashby, Jonathan Chick, Jane M. Moseley
Citations241
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TL;DR
There is some weak evidence of an increased risk of non-fatal self harm for current SSRI use among those aged 18 or younger, but preferential prescribing of SSRIs to patients at higher risk of suicidal behaviour cannot be ruled out.
Abstract
We found no evidence that the risk of suicide or non-fatal self harm in adults prescribed SSRIs was greater than in those prescribed tricyclic antidepressants. We found some weak evidence of an increased risk of non-fatal self harm for current SSRI use among those aged 18 or younger. However, preferential prescribing of SSRIs to patients at higher risk of suicidal behaviour cannot be ruled out.
Keywords
PsychologyMedicine
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