Does SSRI Use Help Account for Recent SES Differences in Suicide?

Since the introduction of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), counties with higher socioeconomic status (SES) have experienced lower rates of suicide than low-SES counties.

The decline in suicide rates observed after the introduction of SSRIs has differed by age, sex, and race. Might socioeconomic status (SES) also be a factor? Investigators examined suicide data reported on death certificates from all U.S. counties over a 42-year period and county-specific SES (based on percentages of individuals with <9 years of education, >12 years of education, and white-collar jobs; families at or above poverty level; and households with telephones). SSRI use was roughly estimated from two datasets from representative national surveys.

Analy…