Use of Antidepressants Among People Committing Suicide in Sweden

This study covers all forensic toxicological screening during 1990-91 including 3400 suicides. Results indicate that most depressed patients who commit suicide were not taking antidepressants immediately before death. Therapeutic failure may be a greater problem than toxicity as results did not indicate any advantages of newer, less toxic antidepressants. All causes of death should be included in risk analyses to provide an estimate of effectiveness as well as toxicity of antidepressants.