Year: 2002 Source: Journal of Affective Disorders, v.68, no.2-3, (April 2002), p.167-181 SIEC No: 20090669

406 hospitalised patients with affective disorders were followed prospectively for 22 years or more. Later, mortality was assessed for 99% of them at which time 76% had died. Standardised mortality ratios were elevated expecially for suicide & circulatory disorders in both men & women. Women actually had higher suicide rates but that did not take into account the 2-fold increase in general population rates for men. Unipolar patients had significantly higher rates of suicide than bipolar I or II patients. In all groups, long-term treatment with antidepressants alone or in combination with other drugs significantly lowered suicide rates even though the treated were more severely ill. Suicide rates were most elevated at age of onset. (74 refs.)