Anti-depressants, suicide, and drug regulation

Bibliographic Data

ID11682749
AuthorsJens Ludwig (0000-0002-2998-1696, Georgetown University, corresponding author), Dave E Marcotte (0000-0003-0222-9186, University of Maryland, Baltimore County)
Year2005
Volume24
Issue2
Pages249-272
Publication date2005-01-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Policy Analysis and Management (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0276-8739 • E-ISSN: 1520-6688
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/pam.20089
PMID15776534
OpenAlexW2106164880
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited35

Policymakers are increasingly concerned that a relatively new class of anti-depressant drugs, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI), may increase the risk of suicide for at least some patients, particularly children. Prior randomized trials are not informative on this question because of small sample sizes and other limitations. Using variation across countries over time in SSRI sales and suicide, we find that an increase of one pill per capita (a 13 percent increase over 1999 levels) is associated with a 2.5 percent reduction in suicide rates, a relationship that is more pronounced for adults than for children. Our findings suggest that expanding access to SSRIs for adults may be a cost-effective way to save lives, although policymakers are right to remain cautious about pediatric use of SSRIs

Drug · Environmental health · Per capita · Pill · Poison control · Population · Psychiatry · Suicide prevention · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Medicine · Youth Substance Use and School Attendance · Pharmacology

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