Researchers claim that the warning that 'antidepressants have a risk of causing suicidal behavior' instead increases adolescents' suicides
As depression in young people has become a social problem in recent years, concerns about the side effects of antidepressants have increased, and the
After the FDA issued warnings about antidepressants, youth suicides rose and mental health care dropped
https://theconversation.com/after-the-fda-issued-warnings-about-antidepressants-youth-suicides-rose-and-mental-health-care-dropped-171008
Professor Stephen Soumerai of Harvard Medical School and Professor Ross Koppel of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Information have been investigating the impact of health policies on patient safety for over 30 years. A study published in 2013 by Soumerai and colleagues found that FDA drug warnings help prevent life-threatening side effects, while one-third of the FDA warnings require care. It indicates that it has caused a deficiency or other side effects.
And in a 2020 study , we investigated the FDA's warning about antidepressants: 'Young people may want to die or really commit suicide if taken.' In this study, data on youth suicide in the United States from 1990 to 2017 were obtained from the WONDER database maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and analyzed.
As a result, although the youth suicide rate tended to decline steadily for the 13 years before the FDA issued the warning, the trend reversed shortly after the FDA issued the warning in late 2003. It turns out that the number of youth suicides has increased significantly. In addition, analysis shows that in the six years since 2005, when warnings were placed on antidepressant boxes, the number of suicides increased by 6,000 compared to before. On the other hand, in the older group, who were not covered by the warning, the suicide rate increased, but at a much lower pace than the youth.
In the graph below, the green line shows the 'suicide rate before the FDA warning' and the blue line shows the 'suicide rate after the FDA warning'. It can be seen that the suicide rate, which had been on a downward trend before the warning was issued, has increased since the time when the warning was issued.
As FDA warnings scare many patients, their parents, and doctors, Soumerai and colleagues are less likely to receive antidepressants and psychotherapy to alleviate the major symptoms of depression. Pointed out. In fact, a study tracking the mental health care of 11 million adolescents enrolled in Medicaid , an American medical aid program, included antidepressant prescriptions shortly after the FDA issued a warning in 2003. He noted that the number of adolescents visiting doctors for depression care was reduced by as much as 30-40%.
The graph below shows the percentage of people who see a doctor for depression: red is white, blue is black, and green is Latin. It can be seen that the consultation rate tended to increase before the FDA warning was issued for all races, but decreased significantly after the warning.
According to Professor Soumerai and others, it has been found that the number of young people who are addicted to prescription drugs such as sleeping pills has increased at the same time as the number of consultations due to depression has decreased. Suicide with prescription drugs other than antidepressants seems to be a common way for young people to attempt suicide, and the two argue that this also supports the view that the FDA's warning has increased youth suicide. ..
And in 2018, it was reported that two patients who actually refused to take antidepressants because 'the warning is written on the box' attempted suicide. Fortunately, the two survived, and after that they started taking antidepressants prescribed as 'the effects of the drug are likely to outweigh the disadvantages' and combined with psychotherapy without increasing suicidal ideation. He said he was able to relieve his symptoms.
Professor Soumerai and colleagues suspected that there were other factors that increased the suicide rate of young people besides the FDA's warning, but at the same time as the FDA issued the warning, there were multiple results such as a decrease in treatment and an increase in suicide. Claims that the appearance suggests that it is not a coincidence. 'There is plenty of evidence that the FDA's warnings about antidepressants need to be revisited, and the number is increasing,' he said.
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