Healthy Skepticism Library item: 12119

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Publication type: Journal Article

Jureidini J.
The Black Box Warning: Decreased Prescriptions and Increased Youth Suicide?
Am J Psychiatry 164:1907, December 2007 2007 Dec; 164:(12):1907
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/164/12/1907

Abstract:

To The Editor: The article by Robert D. Gibbons, Ph.D., et al., published in the September 2007 issue of the Journal, incorrectly analyzed the relationship between U.S. selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) prescription rates and suicide rates among children (1). Dr. Gibbons et al. indicated that there is a correspondence between a 22% decrease in prescriptions after warnings were issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the 14% increase in youth suicide rates between 2003 and 2004. They concluded that decreases in prescriptions “were associated with increases in suicide rates in children and adolescents” (1, p. 1357). Unless carefully examined, Figure 1 and Figure 2 in their article create the same impression. However, the data show no such association…

Notes:

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