Work

Antidepressant prescribing prior to suicide: role of doctors

Year: 1996

Type: article

Abstract: The pharmacological treatment of depression and the time elapsed since last seen by a doctor were investigated among 507 adults who subsequently killed themselves. The proportion of people consulting a general practitioner or psychiatrist prior to suicide was lower than reported by the British government in the Health of the Nation document. General practitioners prescribed relatively low doses of antidepressants. Nineteen out of the 115 people receiving antidepressants used the drugs to kill themselves. Our findings emphasise the importance of prescribing adequate doses of antidepressants and underline the need for safer prescribing.

Source: Psychiatric Bulletin

DOI: 10.1192/pb.20.5.282

Authors: Harm Boer, Nick Booth, David Russell, Roy Powell, Martin Briscoe

Institutions: Mount Medical Centre, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Language: English

Topic: Suicide and Self-Harm Studies

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

OpenAlex ID: W2005124100