Antidepressant-related deaths.

Cheeta Cheeta et al et al (2004) present data on (2004) present data on antidepressant-related deaths in England antidepressant-related deaths in England and Wales, 1998–2000. They report in-and Wales, 1998–2000. They report information about antidepressant deaths formation about antidepressant deaths collected by the National Programme of collected by the National Programme of Substance Abuse Deaths (np-SAD data-Substance Abuse Deaths (np-SAD database). The aims of their paper were: (a) to base). The aims of their paper were: (a) to investigate relative toxicities of major investigate relative toxicities of major classes of antidepressant (compare acciden-classes of antidepressant (compare acciden-tal/intentional deaths); and (b) to analyse tal/intentional deaths); and (b) to analyse deaths where other drugs were also present deaths where other drugs were also present at post-mortem examination. We are con-at post-mortem examination. We are concerned that the data-set used for this cerned that the data-set used for this analysis is unable to address these analysis is unable to address these objectives. objectives. (ONS) database of drug-poisoning deaths (ONS) database of drug-poisoning deaths holds information about all such deaths holds information about all such deaths since 1993. This includes textual since 1993. This includes textual information from the coroners' reports information from the coroners' reports about the types of substances taken. We about the types of substances taken. We have recently conducted an analysis of have recently conducted an analysis of antidepressant-related poisoning deaths antidepressant-related poisoning deaths for a 10-year period Cheeta et al et al reported 468 deaths involving antidepres-reported 468 deaths involving antidepres-sants recorded in the np-SAD database. sants recorded in the np-SAD database. Our analysis of the ONS database found Our analysis of the ONS database found 1452 deaths involving antidepressants for 1452 deaths involving antidepressants for the same period. Clearly a large number the same period. Clearly a large number of antidepressant-related deaths are missing of antidepressant-related deaths are missing from the np-SAD database. This is prob-from the np-SAD database. This is probably because about 80% of antidepres-ably because about 80% of antidepres-sant-related deaths are due to suicide and sant-related deaths are due to suicide and not substance misuse (the data collected not substance misuse (the data collected by np-SAD). Furthermore, Cheeta by np-SAD). Furthermore, Cheeta et al et al found that 93% of deaths involving found that 93% of deaths involving selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) also involved other drugs. In our (SSRIs) also …