Antidepressants and suicide risk: A challenge

Abstract

The topic of whether antidepressant drugs increase or decrease the risk of various aspects of "suicidality" is still controversial, especially among patients with a mood disorder diagnosis. Recent data has shown a possible increase in risk of suicidal behavior among children and adolescents treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). In 2004, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established that antidepressant drugs should display a black box on their label, with warning information about the elevated risk of suicidal behavior in individuals aged 18-24 years. Research on the relationship between pharmacotherapy and suicidal behavior was virtually nonexistent until a decade ago. Since then, several studies have demonstrated that antidepressants reduce suicide risk among psychiatric patients, whereas others have found an increase in suicide risk during antidepressant treatment. Close monitoring is critical, and prudent follow-up care should be provided for patients prescribed with antidepressants.