Finnish researchers found that among 2,588 patients hospitalized for the first time with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, benzodiazepine use predicted almost 4x the rate of suicide and almost twice the rate of all-cause mortality. 826 of 904 patients who used benzodiazepines had purchased prescriptions that violated treatment guidelines. (Antidepressant use was associated with a decrease in suicide deaths). The findings appear in Archives of General Psychiatry.
Abstract →
***
Mad in America hosts blogs by a diverse group of writers. These posts are designed to serve as a public forum for a discussion—broadly speaking—of psychiatry and its treatments. The opinions expressed are the writers’ own.
***
Mad in America has made some changes to the commenting process. You no longer need to login or create an account on our site to comment. The only information needed is your name, email and comment text. Comments made with an account prior to this change will remain visible on the site.