Author Interviews, Depression, JAMA / 23.09.2014
SSRIs for Depression: Initial Dosing Important For Suicide Risk
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Philippe Courtet MD PhD
Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Montpellier, Institut National de la Santé et de la Récherche Médicale ,
Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France
Fondation Fondamental, Créteil, France
Medical Research: What are the main findings of the study?
Dr. Courtet: Depressed outpatients who are beginning the treatment with a SSRI at higher dose than recommended present an increased risk (x2) of worsening of suicidal ideation during the first 6 weeks of treatment.
This is consistent with the study by Miller et al published in the same journal few weeks ago, reporting a double risk of suicide attempt in young subjects (<24 yrs) who are begun an SSRI at higher dose than recommended.
Our results showed that the increased suicide risk with the high dose of SSRI is not restricted to youngsters and is independent of the severity of the depression.
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