SSRIs and Suicide Rates in the U.K.

In 2003, the U.K. health agency prohibited paroxetine use and strongly urged limited use of all SSRIs except fluoxetine in patients younger than 18. To investigate the effect of these rulings on young people aged 12 to 17, researchers examined U.K. datasets of deaths (1993–2005) and hospital admissions (1999–2005) related to self-harm, both intentional and of unknown intent, and data on prescription of antidepressants (1993–2006). Trends from 1999 to 2005 were examined with Joinpoint regression software, which analyzes points of change in trends. Data on patients younger than 12 were not examined, because only one suicide was reported among 11-year-olds.

From 1999 to 2006, 70% of antidepressants prescribed were SSRIs. Antidepressant prescrip…