Reduction by Paroxetine of Suicidal Behavior in Patients With Repeated Suicide Attempts but not Major Depression

The efficacy of paroxetine in the prevention of recurrent suicidal behaviour was studied by conducting a 1-year double-blind study comparing paroxetine & placebo in 91 patients who had recently attempted suicide for at least a second time. With adjustment for the number of previous suicide attempts, paroxetine showed significant efficacy in the prevention of recurrent suicidal behaviour. Among the patients who had attempted suicide fewer than 5 times, 12 in the placebo group & 5 in the paroxetine group made a subsequent suicide attempt. Study results indicate that enhancing serotonergic function with an SSRI may reduce suicidal behaviour in a subgroup of patients who have attempted suicide more than once but who not suffer from major depression. (35 refs.)