The British Journal of Psychiatry (2006) 188: 354-358. doi: 10.1192/bjp.188.4.354
© 2006 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Related articles in BJP
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by RESELAND, S.
Right arrow Articles by GUNNELL, D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by RESELAND, S.
Right arrow Articles by GUNNELL, D.

Relationship between antidepressant sales and secular trends in suicide rates in the Nordic countries

SVEIN RESELAND

KD-G Consulting, Hosle, Norway

ISABELLE BRAY, MSc, PhD and DAVID GUNNELL, MB, ChB, MSc, PhD, FFPHM

Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

Correspondence: Svein Reseland, Hosletoppen 56, 1362 Hosle, Norway. Tel/fax: +47 6714 5899; e-mail: sreselan{at}online.no

Declaration of interest D.G. was a member of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency Expert Working Group on the Safety of SSRIs. He Working Group on the Safety of SSRIs. He was an independent advisor, receiving expenses and an attendance fee.

Background The effect of recent increases in antidepressant prescribing on population suicide rates is uncertain.

Aims To investigate the relationship between antidepressant sales and trends in suicide rates.

Method Graphical and quantitative assessment of trends in suicide and antidepressant sales in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

Results Suicide rates declined in all four countries during the 1990s, whereas antidepressant sales increased by 3- to 4-fold. Decreasing suicide rates in Sweden and Denmark preceded the rise in antidepressant sales by over 10 years, although the reductions accelerated between 1988 and 1990. In Norway, a modest but short-lived decline in suicide rates began around the time of the increase in antidepressant sales. In Finland, decreases in male suicide rates and to a lesser extent in female suicide rates began around the time of increased antidepressant sales. In all four countries decreases in suicide rates appeared to precede the widespread use of SSRIs.

Conclusions We found mixed evidence that increases in antidepressant sales have coincided with a reduction in the number of suicides in Nordic countries.


Related articles in BJP:

Highlights of this issue
KIMBERLIE DEAN
BJP 2006 188: 301-a13. [Full Text]  



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Epidemiol. Community HealthHome page
A Erlangsen, V Canudas-Romo, and Y Conwell
Increased use of antidepressants and decreasing suicide rates: a population-based study using Danish register data
J Epidemiol Community Health, May 1, 2008; 62(5): 448 - 454.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Br. J. PsychiatryHome page
P. Tyrer
From the Editor's desk
The British Journal of Psychiatry, May 1, 2008; 192(5): 400 - 400.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Public Health (Oxf)Home page
O. Morgan, C. Griffiths, and A. Majeed
Antidepressant prescribing and changes in antidepressant poisoning mortality and suicide in England, 1993-2004
J. Public Health Med., March 1, 2008; 30(1): 60 - 68.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Scand J Public HealthHome page
N. E. Maki and P. T. Martikainen
Socioeconomic differences in suicide mortality by sex in Finland in 1971--2000: A register-based study of trends, levels, and life expectancy differences
Scand J Public Health, August 1, 2007; 35(4): 387 - 395.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Br. J. PsychiatryHome page
G. Isacsson
Suicide trends and antidepressants
The British Journal of Psychiatry, January 1, 2007; 190(1): 79 - 79.
[Full Text] [PDF]