Commentary June 15, 2009

Defining and Managing Suicidal Risk in Patients Taking Psychotropic Medications

Jan A. Fawcett; Ross J. Baldessarini; William H. Coryell; Morton M. Silverman; Dan J. Stein

J Clin Psychiatry 2009;70(6):782-789

Article Abstract

In March 2004, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued
a public health advisory warning that antidepressant treatment may
increase suicidality and worsen depression in adult and pediatric patients.
Then, in May 2007, the FDA proposed that the black box warning in the
prescribing information for antidepressants and other drugs used to treat depression
be updated to include a warning about an increased risk of suicidality
in young adults. In January 2008, the FDA announced that antiepileptic
medication labeling will be required to include a warning about an
increased risk of suicidality.