Does Treatment With Antidepressant Medication Increase Suicidal Behavior?

In this paper, the authors briefly outline previous studies on the role of serotonin in suicidal behaviour in depression, & review the debate about antidepressants adversely affecting suicidal behaviour. Possible mechanisms involving effects on the serotonergic system that could account for some of these adverse reactions are discussed, & a contextual framework is developed for interpreting clinical data on this important phenomenon. (26 refs.)