Do SSRIs or Antidepressants in General Increase Suicidality? WPA Section on Pharmacopsychiatry: Consensus Statement

The authors undertook a comprehensive review of publications related to the topics antidepressants, suicide, suicidality, suicidal behaviour, & aggression. Based on the review, it was concluded that antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, carry a small risk of inducing suicidal thoughts & suicide attempts, in age groups below 25 years, the risk reducing further at the age of about 30-40 years. According to the principles of good clinical practice, decision making should consider carefully the beneficial effects of antidepressant treatment as well as potentially harmful effects & attempt to keep the potential risks of antidepressant treatment to a minimum. (133 refs.) JA