Antidepressiva und Suizidalität

Zusammenfassung

Die Wirksamkeit der Antidepressiva bei der Behandlung depressiver Patienten ist durch zahlreiche und methodisch recht sorgfältige Studien gut belegt. Zu Verunsicherung der Patienten und auch mancher Ärzte hat jedoch geführt, dass in der Öffentlichkeit in den letzten Wochen verstärkt diskutiert wurde, ob Antidepressiva Suizide und Suizidversuche auslösen können.

Summary

The effectiveness of antidepressants in the treatment of depressive patients has been proven in numerous methodologically carefully designed studies. In recent weeks, however, patients and also many physicians have been disturbed by the fact that there have recently been discussions in public on whether antidepressants might possibly trigger suicide and suicide attempts. Since suicidal actions do occur during periods of depression, it is certainly plausible that the consistent use of pharmacotherapy can prevent suicides and suicide attempts although, for methodological reasons, it is difficult to support this with statistical evidence. It would be tragic if, as a result of less than well-balanced discussions in this field, patients are made to feel so uncertain that potentially lifesaving treatment with anticoagulants can no longer be applied.

Key words:

antidepressants - depression - suicidality - SSRI

Literatur

• 1 Brent DA, Birmaher B. British warnings on SSRIs questioned [letter].  J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2004;  43 379-380
• 2 Committee on Safety of Medicines .Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs: overview of regulatory status and CSM advice in relation to major depressive disorder (MDD) in children and adolescents. Summary of clinical trials medicines.mhra.gov.uk/ourwork/monitorsafequalmed/safetymessages/ssri overview_101203.htm [Acc 15. April 2004]
• 3 Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research .Summary minutes of the Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee Meeting and the Pediatric Subcommittee of the Anti-infective Drugs Advisory Committee, 2 February 2004.  www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/04/minutes/4006M1_Final.htm [27. April 2004]
• 4 Isacsson G. Psychotropic drugs in the prevention of suicide. Program and abstracts of the 16th European College of Neuropsychopharmacology Congress. Prague, Czech Republic. Symposium S.25.01 2003
• 5 Jureidini JN, Doecke CJ, Mansfield PR. et al. . Efficacy and safety of antidepressants for children and adolescents.  BMJ. 2004;  328 879-883
• 6 Khan A, Khan S, Kolts R. et al. . Suicide rates in clinical trials of SSRIs, other antidepressants, and placebo: analysis of FDA reports.  Am J Psychiatry. 2003;  160 790-792
• 7 Laughren TP. Background on suicidality associated with antidepressant drug treatment. Memorandum, Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.  www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/04/briefing/4006B1_01_Overview %20Memo.pdf
• 8 Whittington CJ, Kendall T, Fonagy P. et al. . Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in childhood depression: systematic review of published versus unpublished data.  Lancet. 2004;  363 1341-1345

Korrespondenzadresse: