Kids on Zoloft 15 times more likely to commit suicide

A study involving nearly 5,500 adults and children has added to the
evidence that common antidepressants increase suicide risk for children
and adolescents.

The study found that children aged 6 to 18 who were treated with
antidepressants were 1.5 times more likely to attempt suicide, and 15
times more likely to die of the attempt, than children who were
diagnosed with depression but did not receive drug treatment.

Adults who used the drugs did not show a similar trend, and the risk
appeared to be linked to certain types of antidepressants and not
others. Effexor (Venlafaxine), a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake
inhibitor (SNRI), was associated with 2.3 times the risk of suicide
attempts.

Tricyclic antidepressants and the selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitor (SSRI) *Zoloft* were also strongly linked with suicide
attempts.

Children and adolescents who used antidepressants were at the highest
risk for suicide in the period immediately after a hospitalization, and
especially if they were just beginning to use antidepressants for the
first time.

Two years ago, the FDA directed manufacturers of SSRI antidepressants,
which include Celexa, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft, to put a special "black
box" warning on the drugs' label alerting health care providers of the
suicide risk.

Archives of General Psychiatry August 2006; 63(8): 865-872
http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/63/8/865

iVillage.com August 7, 2006
http://health.ivillage.com/othernews...pjn9ds,00.html

Ramon

wrote:
A study involving nearly 5,500 adults and children has added to the
evidence that common antidepressants increase suicide risk for children
and adolescents.

The study found that children aged 6 to 18 who were treated with
antidepressants were 1.5 times more likely to attempt suicide, and 15
times more likely to die of the attempt, than children who were
diagnosed with depression but did not receive drug treatment.

Adults who used the drugs did not show a similar trend, and the risk
appeared to be linked to certain types of antidepressants and not
others. Effexor (Venlafaxine), a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake
inhibitor (SNRI), was associated with 2.3 times the risk of suicide
attempts.

Tricyclic antidepressants and the selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitor (SSRI) *Zoloft* were also strongly linked with suicide
attempts.

Children and adolescents who used antidepressants were at the highest
risk for suicide in the period immediately after a hospitalization, and
especially if they were just beginning to use antidepressants for the
first time.

Two years ago, the FDA directed manufacturers of SSRI antidepressants,
which include Celexa, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft, to put a special "black
box" warning on the drugs' label alerting health care providers of the
suicide risk.

Archives of General Psychiatry August 2006; 63(8): 865-872
http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/63/8/865

From that site:

Results In adults (aged 19-64 years), antidepressant drug treatment was
not significantly associated with suicide attempts (odds ratio [OR],
1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86-1.39 [521 cases and 2394
controls]) or suicide deaths (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.52-1.55 [86 cases and
396 controls]). However, in children and adolescents (aged 6-18 years),
antidepressant drug treatment was significantly associated with suicide
attempts (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.12-2.07 [263 cases and 1241 controls]) and
suicide deaths (OR, 15.62; 95% CI, 1.65-infinity [8 cases and 39
controls]).

Conclusions In these high-risk patients, antidepressant drug treatment
does not seem to be related to suicide attempts and death in adults but
might be related in children and adolescents. These findings support
careful clinical monitoring during antidepressant drug treatment of
severely depressed young people.

These are kids who have serious problems to begin with. Regardless of
treatment, they should be carefully monitored.

iVillage.com August 7, 2006
http://health.ivillage.com/othernews...pjn9ds,00.html

Ramon

"Mark Probert" wrote in message
...
wrote:
A study involving nearly 5,500 adults and children has added to the
evidence that common antidepressants increase suicide risk for children
and adolescents.

The study found that children aged 6 to 18 who were treated with
antidepressants were 1.5 times more likely to attempt suicide, and 15
times more likely to die of the attempt, than children who were
diagnosed with depression but did not receive drug treatment.

Adults who used the drugs did not show a similar trend, and the risk
appeared to be linked to certain types of antidepressants and not
others. Effexor (Venlafaxine), a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake
inhibitor (SNRI), was associated with 2.3 times the risk of suicide
attempts.

Tricyclic antidepressants and the selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitor (SSRI) *Zoloft* were also strongly linked with suicide
attempts.

Children and adolescents who used antidepressants were at the highest
risk for suicide in the period immediately after a hospitalization, and
especially if they were just beginning to use antidepressants for the
first time.

Two years ago, the FDA directed manufacturers of SSRI antidepressants,
which include Celexa, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft, to put a special "black
box" warning on the drugs' label alerting health care providers of the
suicide risk.

Archives of General Psychiatry August 2006; 63(8): 865-872
http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/63/8/865

From that site:

Results In adults (aged 19-64 years), antidepressant drug treatment was
not significantly associated with suicide attempts (odds ratio [OR], 1.10;
95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86-1.39 [521 cases and 2394 controls]) or
suicide deaths (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.52-1.55 [86 cases and 396 controls]).
However, in children and adolescents (aged 6-18 years), antidepressant
drug treatment was significantly associated with suicide attempts (OR,
1.52; 95% CI, 1.12-2.07 [263 cases and 1241 controls]) and suicide deaths
(OR, 15.62; 95% CI, 1.65-infinity [8 cases and 39 controls]).

Conclusions In these high-risk patients, antidepressant drug treatment
does not seem to be related to suicide attempts and death in adults but
might be related in children and adolescents. These findings support
careful clinical monitoring during antidepressant drug treatment of
severely depressed young people.

These are kids who have serious problems to begin with. Regardless of
treatment, they should be carefully monitored.

How much more likely are depressed kids to kill themselves if they are not
treated?

Jeff


iVillage.com August 7, 2006
http://health.ivillage.com/othernews...pjn9ds,00.html

Ramon

Jeff wrote:
"Mark Probert" wrote in message
...
wrote:
A study involving nearly 5,500 adults and children has added to the
evidence that common antidepressants increase suicide risk for children
and adolescents.

The study found that children aged 6 to 18 who were treated with
antidepressants were 1.5 times more likely to attempt suicide, and 15
times more likely to die of the attempt, than children who were
diagnosed with depression but did not receive drug treatment.

Adults who used the drugs did not show a similar trend, and the risk
appeared to be linked to certain types of antidepressants and not
others. Effexor (Venlafaxine), a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake
inhibitor (SNRI), was associated with 2.3 times the risk of suicide
attempts.

Tricyclic antidepressants and the selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitor (SSRI) *Zoloft* were also strongly linked with suicide
attempts.

Children and adolescents who used antidepressants were at the highest
risk for suicide in the period immediately after a hospitalization, and
especially if they were just beginning to use antidepressants for the
first time.

Two years ago, the FDA directed manufacturers of SSRI antidepressants,
which include Celexa, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft, to put a special "black
box" warning on the drugs' label alerting health care providers of the
suicide risk.

Archives of General Psychiatry August 2006; 63(8): 865-872
http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/63/8/865
From that site:

Results In adults (aged 19-64 years), antidepressant drug treatment was
not significantly associated with suicide attempts (odds ratio [OR], 1.10;
95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86-1.39 [521 cases and 2394 controls]) or
suicide deaths (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.52-1.55 [86 cases and 396 controls]).
However, in children and adolescents (aged 6-18 years), antidepressant
drug treatment was significantly associated with suicide attempts (OR,
1.52; 95% CI, 1.12-2.07 [263 cases and 1241 controls]) and suicide deaths
(OR, 15.62; 95% CI, 1.65-infinity [8 cases and 39 controls]).

Conclusions In these high-risk patients, antidepressant drug treatment
does not seem to be related to suicide attempts and death in adults but
might be related in children and adolescents. These findings support
careful clinical monitoring during antidepressant drug treatment of
severely depressed young people.

These are kids who have serious problems to begin with. Regardless of
treatment, they should be carefully monitored.

How much more likely are depressed kids to kill themselves if they are not
treated?

Dunno. There is a strong belief that really depressed people are so
non-functional that they cannot muster the effort for suicide. The
medication alleviates that degree of depression, but does not address
the suicidal thoughts.

One more comment: I see that the sample included only 8 cases and 39
controls. Doesn't seem like a whole lot to me.

Jeff wrote:
"Mark Probert" wrote in message
...
wrote:
A study involving nearly 5,500 adults and children has added to the
evidence that common antidepressants increase suicide risk for children
and adolescents.

The study found that children aged 6 to 18 who were treated with
antidepressants were 1.5 times more likely to attempt suicide, and 15
times more likely to die of the attempt, than children who were
diagnosed with depression but did not receive drug treatment.

Adults who used the drugs did not show a similar trend, and the risk
appeared to be linked to certain types of antidepressants and not
others. Effexor (Venlafaxine), a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake
inhibitor (SNRI), was associated with 2.3 times the risk of suicide
attempts.

Tricyclic antidepressants and the selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitor (SSRI) *Zoloft* were also strongly linked with suicide
attempts.

Children and adolescents who used antidepressants were at the highest
risk for suicide in the period immediately after a hospitalization, and
especially if they were just beginning to use antidepressants for the
first time.

Two years ago, the FDA directed manufacturers of SSRI antidepressants,
which include Celexa, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft, to put a special "black
box" warning on the drugs' label alerting health care providers of the
suicide risk.

Archives of General Psychiatry August 2006; 63(8): 865-872
http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/63/8/865
From that site:

Results In adults (aged 19-64 years), antidepressant drug treatment was
not significantly associated with suicide attempts (odds ratio [OR], 1.10;
95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86-1.39 [521 cases and 2394 controls]) or
suicide deaths (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.52-1.55 [86 cases and 396 controls]).
However, in children and adolescents (aged 6-18 years), antidepressant
drug treatment was significantly associated with suicide attempts (OR,
1.52; 95% CI, 1.12-2.07 [263 cases and 1241 controls]) and suicide deaths
(OR, 15.62; 95% CI, 1.65-infinity [8 cases and 39 controls]).

Conclusions In these high-risk patients, antidepressant drug treatment
does not seem to be related to suicide attempts and death in adults but
might be related in children and adolescents. These findings support
careful clinical monitoring during antidepressant drug treatment of
severely depressed young people.

These are kids who have serious problems to begin with. Regardless of
treatment, they should be carefully monitored.

How much more likely are depressed kids to kill themselves if they are not
treated?

Jeff

iVillage.com August 7, 2006
http://health.ivillage.com/othernews...pjn9ds,00.html

In a post in m.h.a. (which was not crossposted to mkh), Just Ed said:

1. since the controls were NOT matched for severity of depression,
its likely that the most severely depressed were the ones which got
drugged. It might be that all of the drugs reduced the rate of suicide
(or not) this study doesn't show cause / effect.

This point was made in parts of the news story which
X trimmed:
"The authors warned that the statistics on suicide deaths were
based on only eight people. These eight may have been among
the sickest, which may have skewed the results. "
and
' "In order to be due to the depression, there would have to be
differences in depression between groups," Olfson said.
"I can't completely exclude that possibility, and those that
are more severely ill get more medications, '

2. The 15 to 1 was the increased likelyhood that a drugged
kid's suicide attempt resulted in death, not the increased
likelyhood of suicide. That would be 1.52 x 15.5, over 23 to 1.

3. These stats were pooled over all of the drugs. While
Zoloft was the only SSRI with increased suicide attempts
it was not the drug with the worst number for that overall.
The 15:1 was for all drugs, not for Zoloft at all, so the title
for this thread was wrong.

Unless you have more data than the abstract and news story
we don't know if Zoloft, specificly, was associated with any
increased risk of death from suicide attempt. There was
no number given for just Zoloft.

Venlafaxine (Effexor) was the drug with the worst numbers (per
the news story: "was associated with 2.3 times the risk of
suicide attempts compared with no drug treatment at all. " ).
This would seem to be a worse drug, except that I see
descriptions on the web that this is used to treat "Major
depressive disorder" so these patients were in worse
condition that those who got milder drugs like SSRIs etc.