Antidepressants medications and the relative risk of suicide attempt

Psychotropic medications and mortality from cardiovascular disease and suicide for individuals with depression in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Polypharmacy for treatment of depression has been increasing in Taiwan.

METHODS

Individuals having depressive disorders were identified in a national database for healthcare services and followed up for 5 years. The mean dosage of antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and sedative-hypnotics was calculated; the associations between the exposure dosage to different psychotropic medications and patients' overall death and death due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and suicide were examined.

RESULTS

A total of 400,042 individuals with depressive disorders (63.8% women) were identified. Compared with those with no exposure to antidepressants, patients prescribed antidepressants had decreased mortality. Use of antipsychotics had a dose-related increase in overall mortality risk compared to no exposure group. Contrarily, depressed patients taking sedative-hypnotics had decreased overall and CVD mortality compared to no exposure group, with the most prominent decrease in CVD mortality of up to 54.9% for those in the moderate exposure group (hazard ratio: 0.451, 95% confidence interval: 0.405-0.503). A moderate or high dose of antidepressants or sedative-hypnotics was shown to be associated with a significantly increased mortality for suicide compared to those with no exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

Antidepressant and sedative-hypnotic use was associated with decreased all-cause and CVD-related mortality and use of antipsychotics was associated with a dose-related increase in mortality risk. Future studies are needed to further clarify the involved mechanisms and benefits and risks should be carefully weighed when prescribing psychotropic medications in patients with depressive disorders.

Development of an innovative analytical method for forensic detection of cocaine, antidepressants, and metabolites in postmortem blood using magnetic nanoparticles

Cocaine and antidepressants rank high globally in substance consumption, emphasizing their impact on public health. The determination of these compounds and related substances in biological samples is crucial for forensic toxicology. This study focused on developing an innovative analytical method for the determination of cocaine, antidepressants, and their related metabolites in postmortem blood samples, using unmodified commercial Fe3O4 nanoparticles as a sorbent for dispersive magnetic solid-phase extraction (m-d-SPE), coupled with liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis. An aliquot of 100 µL of whole blood and 5 µL of the internal standard pool were added to 30 mg of nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were separated from the sample using a neodymium magnet inserted into a 3D-printed microtube rack. The liquid was then discarded, followed by desorption with 300 µL of 1/1/1 acetonitrile/methanol/ethyl acetate. The sample was vortexed and separated, and 1.5 µL of the organic supernatant was injected into the LC-MS/MS. The method was acceptably validated and successfully applied to 263 postmortem blood samples. All samples evaluated in this study were positive for at least one substance. The most frequent analyte was benzoylecgonine, followed by cocaine and cocaethylene. The most common antidepressants encountered in the analyzed samples were citalopram and fluoxetine, followed by fluoxetine's metabolite norfluoxetine. This study describes the first report of this sorbent in postmortem blood analysis, demonstrating satisfactory results for linearity, precision, accuracy, and selectivity for all compounds. The method's applicability was confirmed, establishing it as an efficient and sustainable alternative to traditional techniques for forensic casework.

Comparison of Clinical Manifestations of Patients Poisoned with Tricyclic Antidepressants Alone or with Benzodiazepine Intoxication According to the Dose of Benzodiazepines

Objective

Tricyclic antidepressants poisoning (TCA) is associated with cardiovascular complications, electrocardiographic abnormalities, and central nervous system toxicity. This study aimed to compare the clinical manifestations of poisoned patients with tricyclic antidepressants alone or with benzodiazepine (BZD) intoxication according to the dose of BZDs.

Methods

In this case-control study, 120 patients with TCA poisoning were divided into four groups: the first group of TCA poisoning alone, the second group of TCA and BZD poisoning of <7.75 mg, the third group of TCA and B poisoning of 7.75 to 80 mg, and the fourth group of more than 80 mg of TCA and BZD poisoning. Patients' demographic, clinical, and cardiac information was extracted from their records at admission and 6 h after admission.

Findings

Cardiac complications 6 h after referral and total cardiac complications between TCA and TCA low-dose BZD groups were significantly reduced in the low-dose BZD poisoning group. Comparison of TCA and TCA groups with a moderate dose of BZD showed a significant reduction in time six and total cardiac complications. However, due to the significant difference in TCA values between the two groups, the results are not significant. Comparing the two groups of TCA and TCA with a high dose of BZD, both 6-hour cardiac complications and total cardiac complications in the high-dose BZD group, it was significantly reduced. However, the loss of consciousness was also considerably greater in the high-dose BZD group than in the TCA group.

Conclusion

Concomitant BZDs with TCA can reduce cardiovascular complications from TCA poisoning. However, with high doses of BZDs, there is a greater loss of consciousness.

Predictors of Suicidal Ideation Among IBD Outpatients

BACKGROUND

Suicidal ideation (SI) is understudied in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). We aim to determine SI rates among IBD outpatients and to evaluate predictors of SI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a prospective observational study of consecutive adult IBD outpatients over 18 months. Patients were screened for depression and SI using patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9). Demographic data were obtained from electronic medical record. Regression modeling was used for predictor analyses.

RESULTS

In total, 71 of consecutive 1352 IBD outpatients had SI. Significant correlations between SI and depression severity, tricyclic antidepressants (TCA), IBD-related quality of life, and low vitamin D levels were seen. Univariate regression showed that depression severity, TCA use, and quality of life predicted SI. Multivariate regression showed depression severity (β=0.46; P=0.002) and TCA use (β=0.31; P=0.012) made unique contributions.

CONCLUSIONS

SI is associated with depressive severity and less directly with IBD activity. Low-dose TCA, often used for chronic abdominal pain, is also a risk factor. Identifying the subset of IBD patients most vulnerable to SI can facilitate proper referrals to behavioral services and prevent progression to completed suicides.

Effect of intravenous midazolam on cardiac parameters in acute tricyclic antidepressants poisoning

BACKGROUND

Midazolam is commonly and safely used in poisoning management and intensive care for the control of agitated poisoned patients. Despite the introduction of newer and safer antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are still prescribed and used in many countries due to their cost-effectiveness. Severe morbidity and mortality associated with these drugs arises largely from their well-documented cardiovascular toxicity. In this study we aimed to investigate the probable effect of midazolam on some hemodynamic indices in TCAs-poisoned patients.

METHODS

In this clinical trial, we have evaluated some cardiovascular and hemodynamic indices of 100 TCAs-poisoned patients whom were randomly allocated for receiving midazolam with a first loading dose of 0.1 mg/kg (2 mg/minute) followed by a 6-hour maintenance infusion of 0.1 mg/kg/h of the drug in dextrose-saline (3.33% of dextrose and 0.33% of NaCl) or placebo (dextrose-saline infusion without midazolam). Pulse rate, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, neurologic status and the outcome of therapy for all patients were recorded at the time of admission and hourly for the next 6 hours.

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant reduction in the heart rate of the midazolam treated group after the first hour of hospital admission. There were no significant differences in the respiratory rate, central nervous system manifestations and other indices between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Midazolam may reduce tachycardia (and its fatal consequences) in the first hour of admission in TCAs-poisoned patients.

Tricyclic antidepressant overdose treated with adjunctive lipid rescue and plasmapheresis

Tricyclic antidepressant poisoning remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in the setting of suicidal attempts. The current standard of care for treatment is the administration of sodium bicarbonate infusion. Adjunctive lipid emulsion therapy and plasmapheresis have received attention recently. We report an 18-year-old patient who was successfully managed with lipid emulsion and plasmapheresis as adjuncts to sodium bicarbonate treatment and review some of the recent literature.

Antidepressant use and the risk of suicide: a population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

The existing literature provides contradictory evidence on antidepressant use and risk of suicide. Some studies have shown that the use of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) is associated with an increased risk of suicide, especially during the first months of treatment, whereas other studies did not confirm this association. For this reason, our objective was to investigate the association between antidepressant use and risk of suicide in incident antidepressant users in relation to time since starting therapy.

METHODS

We conducted a population-based cohort study within the Dutch Integrated Primary Care Information (IPCI) database, in incident users of antidepressant therapy between 1994 and 2012 (n=27,712). Cox proportional hazard models were used to study the association between current use of SSRIs, tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) and other antidepressants and risk of suicide or attempted suicide.

RESULTS

During follow-up, a total of 280 incident antidepressant users attempted or committed suicide. Current use of SSRIs (hazard ratio (HR): 0.78, 95% CI: 0.57-1.07), TCAs (HR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.48-1.42) or other antidepressants (HR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.47-1.18) was not statistically significantly associated with suicide compared to past use of any of the antidepressants.

LIMITATIONS

Although a large healthcare database was used, the number of reported cases of suicide (attempt) was low.

CONCLUSIONS

This study did not indicate an increase in risk of suicide after starting treatment with SSRIs, TCAs or other antidepressants compared with past antidepressant use.

Swiss Prison Suicides Between 2000 and 2010

Background: Suicide is the leading cause of death in Swiss prisons. The Federal Statistics Office provides numbers but no further details. Previous studies worldwide have focused on identifying suicide risk factors in prisoners, but very few have looked at the methods used in relation to prevention strategies. Aims: To obtain details of Swiss prison suicides, determine new findings in an international context, and establish prevention strategies based on the information acquired. Method: Retrospective data analysis of prison suicides extracted from the database of all suicides investigated by Swiss institutes of legal medicine between 2000 and 2010, using a standardized assessment sheet. Results: Out of 4,885 suicides investigated in the institutes of legal medicine in Switzerland, we identified 50 (1.02%) inmate suicides. Most were unmarried Swiss men, with a median age of 32 years. The two most common methods used were hanging and tricyclic antidepressant overdose. Two died due to self-immolation. Conclusion: Swiss prison suicides do not differ from those in other countries regarding sociodemographic details and the most common method of hanging. Anchoring devices, even low ones, should be avoided to prevent hanging and medication intake should be monitored. As prisoners use tricyclic antidepressants to die by suicide, we recommend the general monitoring of intake.

Arterial blood gas analysis and the outcome of treatment in tricyclic antidepressants poisoned patients with benzodiazepine coingestion

Background. Poisoning with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) is still a major concern for emergency physicians and intensivists. Concomitant ingestion of other psychoactive drugs especially benzodiazepines with TCAs may make this clinical situation more complex. This study aimed to compare the arterial blood gas (ABG) values and the outcome of treatment in patients with coingestion of TCA and benzodiazepine (TCA + BZD) poisoning and TCA poisoning alone. Methods. In this cross-sectional study which was carried out in a tertiary care university hospital in Iran, clinical and paraclinical characteristics of one hundred forty TCA only or TCA + BZD poisoned patients (aged 18-40 years) were evaluated. ABG analysis was done on admission in both groups. Outcomes were considered as survival with or without complication (e.g., intubation) and the frequency of TCA poisoning complications. Results. Arterial pH was significantly lower in TCA + BZD poisoning group compared with TCA only poisoning group (7.34 ± 0.08 and 7.38 ± 0.08, resp.; P = 0.02). However, other complications such as seizure, and the need for the endotracheal intubation were not significantly different. All patients in both groups survived. Conclusions. Concomitant TCA plus BZD poisoning may make the poisoned patients prone to a lower arterial pH level on hospital admission which may potentially increases the risk of cardiovascular complications in TCA poisoning.

Intoxications with the monoamine oxidase inhibitor tranylcypromine: an analysis of fatal and non-fatal events

Tranylcypromine (TCP) is a non-selective and irreversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor and an effective agent in the treatment of major depression. It features a complex pharmacologic profile and overdoses might induce severe intoxications. To identify typical clinical presentations of TCP-intoxications, range of associated TCP-dosages and possible differences between fatal and non-fatal intoxications a systematic review of all previously published cases of TCP-intoxications was conducted. We detected n=20 reports of TCP-intoxications in the literature (fatalities n=10). Mean age was 36.7 years (median 37); the majority of patients were female (60%). Frequent findings in patients with TCP-intoxications were disturbance of consciousness/cognitive dysfunction (90%), cardio-vascular symptoms (55%), hyperthermia (50%), respiratory distress (45%), delirium (45%), muscular rigidity (30%) and renal failure (20%). Suicidal intent was present in n=18 (90%) patients. First clinical symptoms related to TCP-intoxication developed on average in less than 1 day. The average dosage related to TCP-intoxication was 677 mg. The highest survived TCP-dosage was 4000 mg and the lowest fatal dosage was 170 mg. Patients with fatal intoxications were on average older (40.5 vs. 32.8 years) and developed a more rapid onset of symptoms (0.2 vs. 0.8 days). Death occurred after a mean time of 0.6 days; symptom relief in patients with non-fatal intoxications developed on average after 3.2 days. Considering the large dose spectrum between survived and lethal TCP-dosages individual susceptibility factors might play a role regarding the severity of clinical symptoms independently of the ingested dosage.

Evaluation of attempted suicide in emergency departments in Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey

AIM

Attempted suicide is one of the most important public health problems among preventable causes of mortality in the general population. Identifying risk factors for the prevention of suicide is a major public health goal. The aim of this study was to determine the annual rate of attempted suicide, related risk factors, and interventions, among referrals to emergency departments in the Sanliurfa province of southeastern Turkey.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Data were obtained from all emergency departments in the province based on the 'Suicide Attempt Registry' standardized records for the calendar year 2010. Sociodemographic characteristics, aetiology, psychiatric history, psychiatric consultations, and interventions were examined. The groups were analysed with the chi-square test; the significance level was set at p<0.05.

RESULTS

The annual rate of suicide attempts was 55.39 in 100,000 for the calendar year 2010. The rate was 3.47 times higher among women than men, and in particular 4.15 times higher for the 15-24 year age group among women than in men with the highest incidence of suicide attempts. The majority of cases were referred in April and May. Medication or toxic agent ingestions comprised 90.3 % of cases. The main reason for attempts was family problems or domestic violence among women, and economic hardships among men, and rates of physical and mental problems were similar for both sexes. Only 8.8 % of cases were subsequently referred for psychiatric consultation. Among cases with a prior suicide attempt history, 44.6 % had a reported psychiatric disorder.

CONCLUSION

The results of this investigation show that strengthening of surveillance and emergency healthcare systems, enhancement of mental health literacy, and inter-sector collaboration for development of community empowerment programmes are of vital importance for prevention of attempted suicide. The low rate of psychiatric referrals for subsequent intervention represented a major gap in urgent mental health services in the region.