Citation

Kalmar S. Neuropsychopharmacol. Hung. 2011; 13(2): 59-72.

Vernacular Title

Az ongyilkossag es az antidepressziv gyogyszerek fogyasztasa (N06A) kozotti

Affiliation

Privat practice, Kecskemet, Hungary. kalm-r@t-online.hu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Neuroline - Hungarian Association of Psychopharmacology)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

21677319

Abstract

Introduction: The author examines and determines the effect of antidepressant prescription and consumption on suicides by gender and age group in Hungary and Bács-Kiskun County. Despite the significant decrease in the number of suicides both in Hungary and Bács-Kiskun County since 1984, the figure is still very high. Behind the generally decreasing statistical figures, between 2007 and 2009 the number of suicide victims increased by 0.5%, and the number of male suicide victims increased by 2.2% in Hungary. There are several new hypotheses to explain the decrease, among which the most controversial is the one looking for connections between the decreasing number of suicide victims and the increasing consumption of antidepressants (N06A). Methods: The connections between suicides and the consumption of antidepressants was examined and analyzed in the population in 1999-2006, in Hungary and Bács-Kiskun County on the basis of the data of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office and National Health Insurance Company. Four indicators were used in the analysis of antidepressant consumption and suicides: 1. The number of patients using antidepressants. 2. The days of treatment: DOT. 3. The amount of the selected antidepressant. 4. DHD: DDD/1000 inhabitant/day. (DDD: Defined daily dose by the WHO). The connections were identified with correlation coefficients. Results: The results of the analysis supported the hypothesis that in spite of some contradictions there is a connection between the increase in antidepressant use and the decrease in the number of suicides. The increased use of antidepressants is one of the factors contributing to the decrease of suicides. Conclusion: Although the complex diagnostics and treatment of depression will lead to the decrease of the risk of suicide in depressed patients, there is an underlying question to be explained in future research: considering the fact that depressive disorders can be treated, why this cannot lead to a more intense decrease in the number of suicides. In future suicide prevention programs higher attention must be paid to high risk populations, especially depressed patients.

Language: hu