Citation

Ohberg A, Vuori E, Ojanpera I, Lonngvist J. Br. J. Psychiatry 1996; 169(1): 75-80.

Affiliation

Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland. Annakatri.Ohberg@helsinki.fi

Comment In:

Br J Psychiatry 1996;169(4):526

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, Royal College of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8818372

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Alcohol and drugs use were assessed in a nationwide one year suicide study in Finland. METHOD: Alcohol and drugs use were analysed in 1348 suicides, 96.5% of all suicides in the study year. Relative suicide risks for drugs were defined by relating the number of suicides committed by use of various drugs to drug availability. RESULTS: Alcohol was detected twice as often in men as in women; the opposite was the case with drugs. The drugs most commonly used for suicide were neuroleptics and antidepressants, which were, in 74.3% and 77.4% of the cases, respectively, the victims own prescribed drugs. Antidepressants were found in 19.0% of women and only 4.8% of men. Relative suicide risk for antidepressants varied substantially between different compounds. CONCLUSIONS: Undertreatment of depression is a challenge for suicide prevention. Those who commit suicide by antidepressants use their own drugs. Relative suicide risk for a drug should be considered when choosing treatment for depressive patients.

Language: en