Association between psychotropic drug prescription and suicide rates in Scotland: population study.
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ABSTRACT: Aims and method
Rates of prescriptions of antidepressants and suicide are inversely correlated at an epidemiological level. Less attention has been paid to relationships between other drugs used in mental health and suicide rates. Here we tested relationships between prescriptions of anxiolytics and antipsychotics and suicide rates in Scotland.Results
Suicide rates were inversely correlated with prescriptions of antidepressants and antipsychotics over 14 years (2004-2018), and positively with prescriptions of anxiolytics.Clinical implications
This illustrates the role of medications used in mental health in suicide prevention, and highlights the importance of identifying causal mechanisms that link anxiolytics with suicide.
SUBMITTER: Moore FR
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10063996 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Association between psychotropic drug prescription and suicide rates in Scotland: population study.
Moore Fhionna R FR Macleod Mairi M Harley Trevor A TA
BJPsych bulletin 20230401 2
<h4>Aims and method</h4>Rates of prescriptions of antidepressants and suicide are inversely correlated at an epidemiological level. Less attention has been paid to relationships between other drugs used in mental health and suicide rates. Here we tested relationships between prescriptions of anxiolytics and antipsychotics and suicide rates in Scotland.<h4>Results</h4>Suicide rates were inversely correlated with prescriptions of antidepressants and antipsychotics over 14 years (2004-2018), and po ...[more]
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