Antidepressants Therapy and Risk of Suicide Among Patients with Major Depressive Disorders

Most cases of suicide (81%-95%) in the general population involve psychiatric illnesses, nearly half of which (48.5%) are mood disorders. Internationally, the overall average suicide rate has been rising gradually over the past half-century, with increases reported in about half of nations, mainly among men, and moderate decreases found in another half, including in Northern Europe and North America. This book reviews whether the use of antidepressants is associated with benefits in terms of completed or attempted suicide, whether the increasing use of SSRIs is associated with benefits in terms of decreased rates of suicide with the aim of generating evidence-based suggestions for clinicians.