TY - JOUR PY - 2005// TI - Antidepressants and the suicide rate: is there really a connection? JO - Advances in health economics and health services research A1 - Dahlberg, Matz A1 - Lundin, Douglas SP - 121 EP - 141 VL - 16 IS - N2 - Recent research claims that the major part of the observed reduction in suicide rates during the 1990s can be explained by the increase in the prescription of antidepressants. However, this conclusion is based on research that only looks at raw correlations; confounding effects from other variables are not controlled for. Using a rich Swedish data set, we reinvestigate the issue. After controlling for other covariates, observed as well as unobserved, that might affect the suicide rate, we find, overall, no statistically significant effects from antidepressants on the suicide rate; when we do get significant effects, they are positive for young persons. Regarding the latter result, more research is needed before any firm policy conclusion can be made.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 0731-2199 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -