BMJ  2006;332:1453 (17 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7555.1453-a

Letter

Suicidal behaviour and SSRIs: updated meta-analysis

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

EDITOR—Our meta-analysis on the risk of suicide from selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) was published last year.¹ In the light of recently released data for paroxetine by its manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline,² we have updated our results.

In our original analysis we were unable to distinguish between occurrences of non-fatal self harm and suicidal thoughts for patients in paroxetine trials. Our main analysis of these events therefore excluded the paroxetine data; in a sensitivity analysis we divided the events equally between self harm and suicidal thoughts. The new data released by GlaxoSmithKline come from placebo controlled trials of paroxetine and combine data on completed suicides, attempted suicide, and preparatory acts towards imminent suicidal behaviour into a single category of "definitive suicidal behaviour." For consistency with our original article, we have used data on all indications, although GlaxoSmithKline has provided a full breakdown. In 57 trials, there were 50/8958 events in . . . [Full text of this article]

j.c.saperia@qmul.ac.uk, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Queen Mary, University of London, London EC1M 6BQ

Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Queen Mary, University of London, London EC1M 6BQ

Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PR

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