BMJ  2005;330:1148 (14 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7500.1148-a

Letter

Do selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors cause suicide?

Figures look doubtful

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—Gunnell et al offer figures for suicide with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).¹ However, in the expert working group's report on SSRIs,² the table for citalopram indicates no suicide in the placebo group. Data on paroxetine are not available from the report, but prior submissions indicate four suicides with paroxetine (CSM Expert Working Group on the Safety of SSRIs, unpublished data, 2003). Gunnell et al note three suicides in the placebo group during the withdrawal phase, but a 1991 review of the safety of paroxetine does not indicate that these happened in the withdrawal phase of placebo controlled trials.³ If Gunnell et al are relying on a company submission these figures must be in some doubt.

Twelve suicides may have occurred in 23 804 patients taking SSRIs and six in 17 022 taking placebo, an odds ratio of 1.43; or possibly 12 suicides with SSRIs and three with . . . [Full text of this article]

Cardiff University, Bangor LL57 2PW healy_hergest@compuserve.com

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Related Article

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and suicide in adults: meta-analysis of drug company data from placebo controlled, randomised controlled trials submitted to the MHRA's safety review

David Gunnell, Julia Saperia, and Deborah Ashby
BMJ 2005 330: 385. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]