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Pharmacopsychiatry 2014; 47(01): 18-21
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1357183
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Association between Antidepressant Prescribing and Suicide Rates in OECD Countries: An Ecological Study

M. A. Kamat
1   Department of Psychiatry, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast HSC Trust, U.K.
,
L. Edgar
1   Department of Psychiatry, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast HSC Trust, U.K.
,
P. Niblock
1   Department of Psychiatry, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast HSC Trust, U.K.
,
C. McDowell
2   Northern Ireland Clinical Research Support Centre, Belfast, U.K.
,
C. B. Kelly
1   Department of Psychiatry, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast HSC Trust, U.K.
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 19 May 2013
revised 11 August 2013

accepted 07 September 2013

Publication Date:
08 October 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction:

We have conducted an ecological study to assess the association between antidepressant prescribing and suicide rates using the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) health data, making this the largest ecological study in recent times.

Method:

Data were derived for the years 1995–2008 from the OECD health data set. The residuals for all variables were adjusted for country and year within each country. These were then analysed to identify predictors of suicide rate. Pearson’s rank correlation coefficient and linear regression model were employed to assess associations and identify significant predictors of suicide rate.

Results:

Suicide rate has significant positive correlations with antidepressant rates (p=0.031) and unemployment (p=0.028). It also has a significant negative correlation with inpatient psychiatric beds (p=0.039). The actual coefficients are less than ±0.16, indicating weak relationships. After adjusting for other variables, the only variable that is a statistically significant predictor of suicide rate is antidepressant prescribing (p=0.005, r²=0.09).

Discussion:

Our analysis using this large data set suggests a statistically significant, albeit weak positive, association between antidepressant prescribing and suicide rates.

Key words

antidepressant prescribing - OECD - suicide rates
 

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