An Historical Note on Suicide During the Course of Treatment for Depression

In this letter to the editor, the author comments on the current public concern antidepressants may cause suicidal behaviours & the inability of research to allay this fear. Goldney discusses the fact that the risk of suicide during treatment for depression has been well documented for almost 200 years. Suicide appears to be a risk that is inevitable & part of the natural history of recovery from depression rather than necessarily being associated with a specific treatment. (10 refs.)