Analyses of Suicidality in Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trials of Pharmacotherapy for Weight Reduction

Suicidality data from 11 double-blind, controlled trials in the United States Investigational New Drug fluoxetine obesity clinical trial data base (3819 randomized outpatients) were analyzed. Conclusion: Suicidality occurs but has a low incidence rate in the obese who seek pharmacologic weight-reduction therapy. Fluoxetine-treated & placebo treated patients did not differ statistically in the incidence of suicidality either during or after discontinuation of therapy. (28 refs.)