The Impact of Trends in Psychotropic Prescribing on the Method of Suicide in the Elderly

This study examined the relationship between prescribing patterns of individual psychotropic drugs & suicide rates by specific methods among the elderly. There was a negative correlation between the prescription of tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antipsychotics, antimanic drugs, & nonopiate analgesics & a decline in elderly suicides by poisoning, hanging, strangulation, drowning, firearms, & jumping. There was a positive correlation between the prescription of barbiturates, hypnotics, & sedatives & elderly suicide rates due to poisoning, hanging, strangulation, drowning, firearms, & jumping. Results demonstrate that changes in individual psychotropic drugs do influence commonly used methods of suicide among the elderly. (19 refs.)