Suicide in Primary Affective Disorders Revisited: a Systematic Review by Treatment Era

We reviewed suicide rates in affective disorder & their variation with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) & antidepressant availability. The risk of suicide in follow-up studies of affective disorder has decreased compared to that reported in previous reviews. The availability of ECT & antidepressants may have contributed to this decrease, but prescription of these treatments cannot be assumed for all patients. (109 refs)