Science study Violent by antidepressants

SSRI entice young people to violence
The use of antidepressants could cause young people to violent behavior, according to a recent study by scientists from the University of Oxford and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. The use of so-called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) was accompanied in persons under the age of 18 years with increased violent crime, researchers report researchers from Seena Fazel of the University of Oxford in the journal "PLoS Medicine".
Actually, antidepressants should help people with depression and avoid worse consequences such as self-harm or suicide. "SSRIs (which are also used to treat several other mental illnesses) have fewer side effects than older antidepressants, although they can still lead to headaches, nausea, sleep disorders, restlessness, and sexual problems," the researchers explain. However, SSRIs are "not recommended for use in people under the age of 18, as there is some evidence of increased risk of self-harm and suicidal thoughts in this age group."

Are Young People Impending Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) Violent? (Image: Spectral-Design / fotolia.com)

The relationship between violent crime and SSRI intake was investigated
In their current study, scientists have explored possible links between SSRI use and violent behavior. As part of the study, the researchers used the data from a Swedish cohort study in which a total of around 850,000 people (10.8% of the Swedish population) were recorded between the years 2006 and 2009, the SSRIs such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Seroxat) and others got prescribed. About one percent of these people were convicted, according to the scientists for a violent crime, which initially does not suggest a drastically increased inclination to violence.

Worrying increase in violent crime
However, when viewed by age, the convictions were significantly increased in people aged 15 to 24 years, report Fazel and colleagues. Older people, however, would have shown no corresponding increase in violence under the influence of antidepressants. Although the study can not prove a causal link, but the observed increase in violent crime among people under 25 years who received SSRI prescribed was worrying, write the scientists ... Now more research must follow to clarify here. Where appropriate, confirmation of the results may require a warning to the SSRI about the increased risk of violent behavior in young people. However, it would be inappropriate to limit the use of SSRIs in this age group solely on the basis of current study results, because an increase in the negative consequences of poorly treated depression may outweigh the negative consequences of violent crime, Fazel and colleagues continue.