Suicidal Behavior and Psychotropic Medication: Accepted as a Consensus Statement by the ACNP Council, March 2, 1992

The position of the ACNP’s Task Force is presented. The Task Force reviewed the research on the effects of psychotropic medications on suicidality & concluded that antidepressants are effective treatment for depression; new-generation low-toxicity antidepressants may carry a lower risk for suicide; there is no evidence that serotonin reuptake inhibitors trigger emergent suicidal ideation above rates associated with other antidepressants; & patients receiving antidepressants should be monitored.