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Study confirms suicide rates dropping
Scientific American ^ | September 28, 2006 | Maggie Fox

Posted on 09/29/2006 12:26:18 AM PDT by neverdem

Health and Science Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Suicide rates among the youngest and oldest Americans have steadily declined since the late 1980s, U.S. researchers reported on Thursday in a finding that contradicts popular conceptions that rates were rising.

The study suggests that new antidepressant drugs may not raise the risk of suicide after all, the researchers said, but they acknowledge they are mystified by what might be causing the decline, because it is not affecting people aged 25 to 64.

"For 40 years adolescent suicide rates rose," said Dr. Robert McKeown, a professor at the University of South Carolina's school of public health.

"Then, the rates began to decline in the late 1980s for adults 65 and older and in the early 1990s for adolescents and young adults," he added. "But many people weren't aware -- they kept saying suicides were increasing when it was no longer true."

McKeown's team looked at suicide statistics gathered by the National Center for Health Statistics and the Census Bureau.

"The adolescent and young adult age group (aged 15 to 24 years) showed a continuously increasing trend in rates until 1994, at which point rates began declining steadily to levels not seen since the early 1970s," they wrote in their report, published in American Journal of Public Health.

Rates Americans from 45 years old to 64 have risen each year from 1999 through 2002, and have remained stable since 1999 for 25-to 44-year-olds.

The reason for any of this was not immediately clear, they said.

"One large-scale factor that could be influencing suicide rates is the economy," they wrote.

"Overall, the U.S. economy thrived during the 1990s, with correspondingly lower unemployment rates."

It is too soon to tell if a subsequent "economic downturn" was affecting suicide rates, they said.

BACKING OTHER RESEARCH

The study is the second major piece of research to show a decline in suicides, and both teams of researchers say the data suggest new antidepressants may not be causing more suicides.

"Despite concerns about an increased risk of suicidal behavior, there is not enough evidence that these drugs raise the risk of completed suicide," McKeown said in an interview.

Millions of Americans use antidepressants, which include Pfizer Inc.'s Zoloft, GlaxoSmithKline Plc's Paxil and Eli Lilly and Co.'s Prozac.

Prozac, or fluoxetine, was the first SSRI, which stands for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration introduced "black box warnings" on the most popular SSRIs in 2004 after studies in the United States and Britain suggested the drugs may raise the risk of suicide in children and adults.

In June, researchers reported in the journal Public Library of Science Medicine SSRIs had saved more than 30,000 lives.

"But you can't blithely assume that drugs like Prozac have lowered the suicide rate. If that was the reason, why haven't the suicide rates of those in the 25-to-64 age brackets declined, too?" McKeown asked.

However, he is worried that misplaced concern about suicides may in fact reduce rates of SSRI use.

"We are concerned that the black box warnings may be having the unintended effect of scaring people away from treatments," he said.

McKeown is now seeking funding to study larger groups of people to see if there is a link between SSRI prescriptions and suicide attempts -- and to see if the black-box warnings have affected prescribing patterns.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; US: Maryland; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: antidepressants; elililly; fluoxetine; glaxosmithkline; paxil; pfizer; prozac; ssris; suicide; suiciderates; zoloft
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1 posted on 09/29/2006 12:26:21 AM PDT by neverdem
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To: neverdem

My personal theory is that anti-depressant drugs may cause some people to commit suicide merely because they give the depressed person enough energy to carry out the suicide he was planning already. The worst thing about current anti-depressants is that they take weeks to work, and their effect is gradual. When I started Prozac, it actually took months to reach an effective dose, because my GP started me at the minimum dose and worked up. Supposedly, there are newer drugs coming that work quickly.


2 posted on 09/29/2006 12:32:00 AM PDT by ozzymandus
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To: neverdem
I almost killed myself today...

I had an "grand mal" epileptic seizure and I'm sore as heck. :(

Prayers are welcome..

p.s. I have had epilepsy since I was about 17yrs old I'm 32 now...

3 posted on 09/29/2006 12:39:15 AM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: neverdem

Bush's Fault


4 posted on 09/29/2006 12:40:56 AM PDT by bmwcyle (Only stupid people would vote for McCain, Warner, Hagle, Snowe, Graham, or any RINO)
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To: Echo Talon

Prayers for your recover and control of your illness.

Aren't there some pretty effective medications these days to keep epilepsy under control?


5 posted on 09/29/2006 12:46:35 AM PDT by FairOpinion (Dem Foreign Policy: SURRENDER to our enemies. Real conservatives don't help Dems get elected.)
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To: FairOpinion
thanks!

yea i take 2 different medications, Zonegran and Dilantin.. this is the first one that i've had in i think over 2 years(medicine works) not sure whats wrong, i'm going to make an appointment.

6 posted on 09/29/2006 12:54:02 AM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: neverdem

I don't think so.... AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!








(ok, just joking)


7 posted on 09/29/2006 12:56:06 AM PDT by Blind Eye Jones
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To: Echo Talon

Good luck. Prayers for your health.


8 posted on 09/29/2006 12:56:06 AM PDT by FairOpinion (Dem Foreign Policy: SURRENDER to our enemies. Real conservatives don't help Dems get elected.)
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To: FairOpinion
man i bit a hole in my tongue! sheesh it hurts like hell! LOL
and my legs are SORE like F***!

I'll be ok in a couple days. :)

9 posted on 09/29/2006 12:58:59 AM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: Echo Talon

All the best to you. Here's some interesting information, including the statistic that 1% of the population experiences some form of epilepsy.

http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/mri_offers_new_hope_for_severe_epilepsy_sufferers_10062.html


10 posted on 09/29/2006 12:59:28 AM PDT by Stallone (Dealing with Democrats IS the War on Terror.)
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To: Echo Talon

Sounds like you really should see your doctor ASAP, I am sure if you insist they will give you an appointment in a day or two. You don't want to wait and chance another attacks.


11 posted on 09/29/2006 1:00:26 AM PDT by FairOpinion (Dem Foreign Policy: SURRENDER to our enemies. Real conservatives don't help Dems get elected.)
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To: Stallone

oh wow, i thought it was more like 3%


12 posted on 09/29/2006 1:00:36 AM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: neverdem
Considering it's a one-time event.

However, I suspect this report will be thrown out the window along with all the Dems hurling themselves off roofs and cliffs the day after the November election.

That being said, depression is a truly serious problem and it's nice to see it taken seriously. I've seen those who have been impacted by serious depression. It's kind of unreal how it changes someone when it hits.

13 posted on 09/29/2006 1:03:54 AM PDT by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: FairOpinion
eh... no money(no insurance)... blah blah blah... no goverment help because im white blah blah blah.... you get the idea(my doctor gives me free doctor visits and free medicine samples) my brother or parents pay if i need tests or something....

i dont have a job, because of this condition, mixed with the medication chronic migraine headaches etc, im a machinist so i obviously cant do that kind of work anymore... now i cant drive for 1 year.

14 posted on 09/29/2006 1:04:32 AM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: bmwcyle

Yeah!


15 posted on 09/29/2006 1:11:53 AM PDT by Alex1977
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To: Echo Talon

Keep your chin up, and use your down time to re-educate.

Being a machinist is a dangerous job no matter who you are, and you've been given the opportunity to move in new directions.


16 posted on 09/29/2006 1:21:34 AM PDT by Stallone (Dealing with Democrats IS the War on Terror.)
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To: Stallone

I cant drive for a year now, so.. LOL


17 posted on 09/29/2006 1:25:33 AM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: neverdem
Suicide data never include suicide by automobile non "accident". Lost control of vehicle, right.

yitbos

18 posted on 09/29/2006 1:44:53 AM PDT by bruinbirdman ("Those who control language control minds. " - Ayn Rand)
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To: neverdem
Study confirms suicide rates dropping

Except for suicides amoung Dallas Cowboys players.

19 posted on 09/29/2006 4:10:09 AM PDT by Always Right
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To: All
Rates Americans from 45 years old to 64 have risen each year from 1999 through 2002, and have remained stable since 1999 for 25-to 44-year-olds.

Stable seems a poor choice of terms when describing suicidal people. Perhaps we should refer to them as 'unstable'. I hope that doesn't sound inttolerant or exclusive. Maybe 'living impaired' would be more politically correct.

20 posted on 09/29/2006 5:31:38 AM PDT by KarinG1 (Some of us are trying to engage in philosophical discourse. Please don't allow us to interrupt you.)
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