Year: 2007 Source: American Journal of Psychiatry, v.164, no.7, (July 2007), p.1029-1034 SIEC No: 20080522

Outpatients claims from a prepaid health plan were used to identify new episodes of depression treatment beginning with an antidepressant prescription in primary care, an antidepressant prescription from a psychiatrist, or an initial psychotherapy visit. Outpatient & inpatient claims were used to identify suicide attempts or possible suicide attempts during the 90 days before & 180 days after the start of treatment. Overall incidence of suicide attempt was highest among patients receiving antidepressant prescriptions from psychiatrists, lower among those starting psychotherapy, & lowest among those receiving antidepressant prescriptions in primary care. The pattern of attempts over time was the same in all three groups. (19 refs.)