Association between psychotropic drug prescription and suicide rates in Scotland: population study

Fhionna R. Moore; Mairi MacLeod; Trevor A. Harley

doi:10.1192/bjb.2021.88

Association between psychotropic drug prescription and suicide rates in Scotland: population study

Fhionna R. Moore (Lead / Corresponding author), Mairi MacLeod, Trevor A. Harley

Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

100 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Aims and method: Rates of prescriptions of antidepressants and suicide are inversely correlated at an epidemiological level. Less attention has been paid to relationships between other drugs used in mental health and suicide rates. Here we tested relationships between prescriptions of anxiolytics and antipsychotics and suicide rates in Scotland.

Results: Suicide rates were inversely correlated with prescriptions of antidepressants and antipsychotics over 14 years (2004-2018), and positively with prescriptions of anxiolytics.

Clinical implications: This illustrates the role of medications used in mental health in suicide prevention, and highlights the importance of identifying causal mechanisms that link anxiolytics with suicide.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	68-70
Number of pages	3
Journal	BJPsych Bulletin
Volume	47
Issue number	2
Early online date	22 Sept 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2021.88
Publication status	Published - Apr 2023

Keywords

anti-anxiety drugs
antidepressants
antipsychotics
epidemiology
Suicide

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Psychiatry and Mental health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1192/bjb.2021.88Licence: CC BY

Final Published VersionFinal published version, 418 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Association between psychotropic drug prescription and suicide rates in Scotland: population study",

abstract = "Aims and method: Rates of prescriptions of antidepressants and suicide are inversely correlated at an epidemiological level. Less attention has been paid to relationships between other drugs used in mental health and suicide rates. Here we tested relationships between prescriptions of anxiolytics and antipsychotics and suicide rates in Scotland.Results: Suicide rates were inversely correlated with prescriptions of antidepressants and antipsychotics over 14 years (2004-2018), and positively with prescriptions of anxiolytics.Clinical implications: This illustrates the role of medications used in mental health in suicide prevention, and highlights the importance of identifying causal mechanisms that link anxiolytics with suicide.",

keywords = "anti-anxiety drugs, antidepressants, antipsychotics, epidemiology, Suicide",

author = "Moore, {Fhionna R.} and Mairi MacLeod and Harley, {Trevor A.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by the Richard Benjamin Trust (grant number RBT 1303, 2013). Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.",

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doi = "10.1192/bjb.2021.88",

language = "English",

volume = "47",

pages = "68--70",

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publisher = "Cambridge University Press",

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T1 - Association between psychotropic drug prescription and suicide rates in Scotland

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AU - Moore, Fhionna R.

AU - MacLeod, Mairi

AU - Harley, Trevor A.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by the Richard Benjamin Trust (grant number RBT 1303, 2013). Copyright: Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

PY - 2023/4

Y1 - 2023/4

N2 - Aims and method: Rates of prescriptions of antidepressants and suicide are inversely correlated at an epidemiological level. Less attention has been paid to relationships between other drugs used in mental health and suicide rates. Here we tested relationships between prescriptions of anxiolytics and antipsychotics and suicide rates in Scotland.Results: Suicide rates were inversely correlated with prescriptions of antidepressants and antipsychotics over 14 years (2004-2018), and positively with prescriptions of anxiolytics.Clinical implications: This illustrates the role of medications used in mental health in suicide prevention, and highlights the importance of identifying causal mechanisms that link anxiolytics with suicide.

AB - Aims and method: Rates of prescriptions of antidepressants and suicide are inversely correlated at an epidemiological level. Less attention has been paid to relationships between other drugs used in mental health and suicide rates. Here we tested relationships between prescriptions of anxiolytics and antipsychotics and suicide rates in Scotland.Results: Suicide rates were inversely correlated with prescriptions of antidepressants and antipsychotics over 14 years (2004-2018), and positively with prescriptions of anxiolytics.Clinical implications: This illustrates the role of medications used in mental health in suicide prevention, and highlights the importance of identifying causal mechanisms that link anxiolytics with suicide.

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KW - antidepressants

KW - antipsychotics

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Association between psychotropic drug prescription and suicide rates in Scotland: population study

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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Developing a Multi-Level Model of Suicide

Cite this

Association between psychotropic drug prescription and suicide rates in Scotland: population study

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

Developing a Multi-Level Model of Suicide

Cite this